Big Week as Team Bonitas cleans up Garden Route Race Podiums

[Matt]

9 July 2012 - The 2012 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour winner, Tyler Day, made a welcome return to the top of a podium to give Team Bonitas a clean sweep of Garden Route road cycling events when he won the 2012 Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Knysna Festival event on Sunday.

 

The sprint ace’s victory in the 100km road race followed teammate HB Kruger’s win at the Nedbank Tour de Plett the week before, bookending a successful week for one of South Africa’s top professional teams. Team Bonitas riders filled nine of the top 10 positions at Tour de Plett, including the first five; and the top six places at Knysna.

 

Day’s victory at South Africa’s most popular winter sports and lifestyle festival road race comes at the ideal time as the team prepares to head off to Europe in a fortnight to tackle a series of high profile European races, including the prestigious Tour of Portugal.

 

“The race lacked some depth in terms of competition, so it was up to Team Bonitas to take control from the start,” explained Day. And take control they did.

 

Team Bonitas’s Luthando Kaka, Johann Rabie and Day rode away from the peloton up the first climb out of Knysna. They were joined by David Garrett (Focus) and a while later, also by HB Kruger (Team Bonitas).

 

Tyler Day won the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Knysna 100km road race.

 

“As we hit the climb up Hoekwil, Rabie attacked and we got rid of Garrett. Behind us, our teammates were also shaking up the chase pack with some pressure on the climb. When we reached Sedgefield on the way back, Luthando, who has been sick, dropped off and the three of us, Rabie, Kruger and myself, rolled through to the finish,” explained Day, who claimed the victory in a time of 02 hours 28 minutes 23 seconds.

 

The team completed a six-day training camp in between the two Garden Route races.

 

“It was an excellent training camp. We bonded really well as a team and got in some good training rides to prepare for our trip to Portugal and Spain,” said Day. “Personally, I’m looking forward to the trip to Europe. My form is really good for the first time in ages. My endurance is good and I’ve been working hard on my sprinting too.”

 

HB Kruger won the Nedbank Tour de Plett 110km road race.

 

“I’m very happy with the team’s condition right now. The training camp at the coast, where the weather is more moderate than in Joburg this time of year, made a big difference to the riders’ morale. The team is very focussed and rider confidence levels are high, which is essential for success. Our first trip to Europe earlier this year went well and I’ve got a lot of confidence that our next one will be even better,” said Malcolm Lange of Lange Sports, the company that owns and manages Team Bonitas.

 

For full results of Tour de Plett and Knysna Cycle Tour, visit www.racetec.co.za

 

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