Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge: MTN-Qubeka committed to Arran

[Matt]

Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge: MTN-Qubeka committed to Arran

Press Release: 15 November 2011

 

Arran Brown (MTN-Qhubeka), the 2009 champion, has no doubt that the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge will boil down to a battle between the top sprinters - himself, Herman Fouché (2007 champion) and Nolan Hoffman.

 

Brown has such confidence in his team-mates that he is prepared to stick out his neck and predict that Sunday’s Cycle Challenge won't be won by riders getting away in a breakaway and staying away.

 

"As a team the only goal we have set ourselves for the second part of the season is to win the Cycle Challenge and anybody who has watched us race over the past few weeks would have realised that we have mastered the art of teamwork.

 

"In every breakaway that mattered there have been a few MTN-Qhubeka riders. Therefore I am confident that my team-mates will be able to control the Cycle Challenge from the beginning, insuring that I get as easy a ride as possible to the finish."

 

Brown is confident that his team-mates won't allow a situation to develop where he finds himself in a small breakaway and worked over by his rivals.

 

As far as the sprint to the line is concerned he makes it clear that it is important for him not to let his team-mates down. "I did a lot of sprint specific training, simulating the finish of the Cycle Challenge. It did a lot for my confidence."

 

Brown reckons the real battle in the last hectic kilometre will be between himself and Fouche.

 

"Nolan is a good sprinter who has the ability to outsprint the best of the best in a flat and fast sprint. I think the slight uphill drag leading to the finish might slow him down, but it suits Herman and me. We are both explosive power sprinters who are not scared to go for a long sprint."

 

According to Brown, Argus champion Tyler Day is still battling to find his best form after being injured. "But it will be a big mistake to write Tyler off. He is a good sprinter and if he has the legs we might be in trouble."

 

As far as his team-mate Reinardt Janse van Rensburg is concerned, Brown made it clear that he is committed to help set up the Cycle Challenge for a bunch sprint.

 

"The nice thing of having Reinardt in our team is that if the unthinkable should happen and a small breakaway does manage to get away - and stay away - there is a good chance that he will be in it.

 

"On current form it will be hard for any rider to beat Reinardt in such a scenario."