New world champs battle heat and wind to claim titles at UWCT Final road race

[Matt]

Pietermaritzburg - More than a dozen new amateur road cycling world champions were crowned at Alexandra Park late on Saturday afternoon after coming up trumps against a very strong field from 32 nations and best mastering the searing heat and howling winds on the out-and-back course to Wartburg.

 

There were scenes of jubilation at medal ceremonies as South Africa celebrated four new world champions, topping the results in the 61km and 96 road races with gold medals for Pauline Cound (women 50-54), Anette Loubscher (women 40-44), Lynette Burger (women 30-34) and a late 50th birthday present for the iconic Gary Beneke (men 50-54).

 

"It is absolutely fantastic to have won - it is something I have always aspired to," said Beneke. "I can now imagine how the guys feel at the Olympics."

 

"I have been sick for the past few months so I was under-prepared. But that just goes to show you often win when you least expect it," he added.

 

Two new world champs. US rider Molly van Houweling (left) and African champ Lynette Burger (right) celebrate their victories at the end of a hard fought 96km road race at the UCI World Cycling Tour Final in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.

Dave Macleod/Gameplan Media

 

There were tears of joy and released emotion for South Africa's Lynette Burger when she clinched her world title, edging home just ahead of American Molly van Houweling who took the rainbow jersey in the 35-39 class.

 

Unable to hold back the tears Burger explained that she had been riding for her late grandfather who died in the past year. "He was my greatest fan and greatest supporter," said Burger. "I couldn't go to his funeral because I was at the SA track champs so I never got to say goodbye. It really felt like he was with me all the way today."

 

"This is the greatest moment of my career," added Burger, who has won numerous national and continental titles. "I have worked so hard for this moment, and to have to work so hard on the day for it, and to go so well, makes it very rewarding."

 

The women's race was complex as the splintered group that raced into Wartburg had riders from three different classes and four nationalities. However aggressive riding at the turn at Wartburg saw Burger and van Houweling take charge of the front of the race, and they raced away to the finish together.

 

"She was too strong for me in the end sprint and I think she is the better climber" said the Californian, who was delighted to be the new world champion in her age group. "In the last two miles I was cramping so badly. Thank goodness the race wasn't any longer!"

 

With racing more than hot enough to match to 40 degree plus temperatures out on the road, the battles for the rainbow jerseys were brutal, none more so that the riveting tactical battle in the men's 45-49 age group where local icon Andrew McLean was pipped at the post by the wily French rider Gregoire Balland.

 

The fast paced front peleton heads up Table Mountain hill on the way out of Pietermaritzburg at the start of the 96km road race at the UCI World Cycling Tour Final in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.

Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media

 

It was bitter pill for Mclean to swallow, having being narrowly beaten to the rainbow jersey in Thursday's time trial.

 

"It was tough out there but in the sprint he had the legs and I couldn't get rid of him," said a disappointed McLean. "Some of us worked hard out there, and Balland didn't contribute that much. Hats off to him I guess because it paid off in the end."

 

Italian rider Daniella Passalacqua was the star of the mornings 61km race that started in Wartburg and wound back into the city, winning the UCI rainbow jersey in her 45-49 year age group and posting the fastest time of the morning.

 

While Passalacqua won comfortably in her age group, the women's 50-54 age group saw a ding-dong duel between local rider Pauline Cound and Norwegian Sissel Vien, with the pair trading the lead throughout until Cound found that little bit extra in the final few kilometres to prevail over the Norsewoman.

 

Similarly American master Ann Marie Miller won her first world title after managing to out sprint the gutsy Dutch woman Marti Valks in the closing stages of their 55-59 year age group race.

 

"We kept swapping the lead until, when we got into the city I decided it was time to practice my sprints," said Miller. "Mentally I had prepared for a cold and rainy day so to have to deal with the very hot and windy conditions was tough," she added.

 

"It has been the most wonderful experience," added Miller. "The city and the people have opened their arms to us, and the hospitality and organisation has been overwhelming."

 

The men's 65+ age group produced similarly ferocious racing with tough Belgian rider Herman van der Borre leading for most of the latter stages of the race to edge out English rider Jimmy Young on the home straight.

 

"The bunch only really warmed up at around 30m," said van der Borre. "The racing was really fast but the wind was difficult. You had to lean right into the wind to stay on your bike in some places."

 

The final day of the UCI World Cycling Tour Final will see the veterans men's age group battling it out over the 112km road race, starting at Alexandra Park at 10am.

 

More information can be found at www.uwctfinal.co.za

 

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

ROAD RACE - UCI WORLD CYCLING TOUR FINAL

 

Women

60-64 61km

1.Julia Emblin AUS 1:51

 

55-59 61km

1.Ann Marie Miller USA 1:47

2.Marti Valks NED 1:54

3.Erna DuToit RSA 2:00

4.Ilna Lemmer 2:10

 

50-54 61km

1.Pauline Cound RSA 1:47

2.Sissel Vien NOR 1:47

3.Patrizia Cabella ITA 1:49

4.Cathy Carstens RSA 1:51

5.Catriona Mumford AUS 1:51

 

45-49 61km

1 Daniela Passalacqua ITA 1:46

2 Amanda Jane Akom RSA 1:51

3 Lauren Wolff RSA 1:51

4 Christiane Brenzel RSA 1:51

5 Joanne O'Dwyer AUS 1:51

 

40-44 96km

1 Annette Loubser RSA 3:12:49

2 Michela Gorini ITA 3:17:18

3 Hilde Hetland NOR 3:17:19

4 Allison Hertel RSA 3:19:12

 

35-39 96km

1 Molly Van Houweling USA 3:04:17

2 Katheryn Mattis USA 3:12:43

3 Cashandra Slingerland 3:12:48

4 Patricia Barradas RSA 3:19:25

 

30-34 96km

1 Lynette Burger RSA 3:04:15

2 Lindi Erasmus RSA 3:19:12

3 Dianne Mcauliffe AUS 3:29:53

 

16-29 Challenger class 96km

1 Megan Cea USA 3:33:44

 

Men

65+ 61km

1 Herman van den Borre BEL 1:48:14

2 Jimmy Young GRB 1:48:15

3 Francesco Sperotto ITA 10:48:47

4 Ross Gamble NZL 1:52:27

5 Jan van den Berg RSA 1:52:28

 

60-64 96km

1 Andre Fosse FRA 3:11:01

2 Arne Raaen NOR 3:11:08

3 Richard Mull USA 3:11:15

4 Noel Ziady RSA 3:12:28

5 Christiaan Rossouw RSA 3:12:32

 

55-59 96km

1 Robert Anderson CAN 2:59:42

2 Paul Furbank RSA 3:01:55

3 Johan Spies RSA 3:10:19

4 Ernest Horn RSA :10:20

5 Franco Abbruzzetti ITA 3:11:09

 

50-54 96km

1 Gary Beneke RSA 2:56:42

2 Alexander Osborne USA 2:56:43

3 James Gibson AUS 2:56:46

4 Dzmitry Buben BEL 2:57:03

5 John Funk USA 2:57:53

 

45-49 96km

1 Gregoire Balland FRA 2:52:05

2 Andrew McLean RSA 2:52:05

3 Vitor Lourenco 2:52:06

4 Cale Reeder USA 2:52:06

5 Giovanni Lattanzi ITA 2:52:08

 

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