Kachelhoffer gives Bonitas a boost with Dome2Dome win

[Matt]

Hanco Kachelhoffer gave Team Bonitas a timely boost when he crafted a smart victory at the Dome2Dome road cycling race on Gauteng’s West Rand on Sunday.

 

The 27-year-old allrounder clocked a winning time of 02 hours 12 minutes 40 seconds for the 93km race, which started and finished in Krugersdorp. David Maree (Tasol GT) and Jani Tewelde (MTN Qhubeka) finished second and third respectively.

 

The undulating race heralded the unofficial opening of the spring/summer South African racing season and all of the big teams were present. For Bonitas and MTN Qhubeka, it was their first real taste of domestic racing since their return from respective European campaigns, which ended with the Tour of Portugal last weekend.

 

Hanco Kachelhoffer gave Team Bonitas a winning start to the South Africa spring racing season.

Photo credit: Dominic Barnardt

 

“It was actually quite strange because even though we live in Joburg, we’ve been at sea level for most of the last six weeks in Europe. So racing a short, fast race like this at altitude was definitely more challenging than usual,” said Kachelhoffer.

 

But while his teammates made their discomfort known after 30km, Kachelfhoffer felt surprisingly good.

 

“I told the guys I was feeling pretty good, so we decided the team would support me at the finish. Last year I was second here so I know the finish well and had noticed there’d be a headwind on the climb to the line,” said Kachelhoffer.

 

Despite the steady wind on the route, the lead pack remained intact, apparently waiting for Sterkfontein Hill, a five-kilometre drag from the Cradle of Humankind to the finish. But MTN Qhubeka’s Rwandan star, Adrien Niyonshuti virtually singlehandedly trimmed the pack down on the final ascent.

 

“Adrien went to the front at the bottom of the Sterkfontein climb and set a fast pace for his teammates. I reckon he cut the bunch down from 60 to 10 in a few kilometres. He definitely made it hard until pretty much the last kilometre,” said Kachelhoffer.

 

With 500 metres remaining, Kachelhoffer’s teammate, Johann Rabie, launched an attack, forcing the other riders in the front group to respond. Kachelhoffer let his rivals tow him across and as Rabie was caught, Eritrean rider Tewelde made his surge for the finish.

 

“I knew he’d gone too early because of the headwind and so I just sat on behind him and David Maree and dashed for the finish as late as possible. It worked out perfectly. Rabie was superb. He knows I’m not so good with a long sprint so he softened them up. There was only Rabie and I from Bonitas in the front group at the end, so it felt good to outsmart the other teams that had more riders than us.

 

“Once we’ve adjusted to the altitude again, we should feel the benefits from our European trip. The racing there was on another level. Physically and mentally we were really tested. With all the popular races coming up over the next couple of months, we’re looking forward to some good results and exposure for our sponsors,” added Kachelhoffer.

 

“It was really satisfying to see Hanco win today. He’s such a key rider on our team and doesn’t get too many chances to win. Today he wanted the win and, with some clever team support, got it. The European racing really pulled the team together nicely. And that’s so important in road racing,” said Malcolm Lange of Lange Sports, the company that owns and manages Team Bonitas.

 

2012 Dome2Dome

Leading results – men:

1 Hanco Kachelhoffer RSA (Team Bonitas) 02hrs12min40sec

2 David Maree RSA (Tasol GT)

3 Jani Tewelde ERI (MTN Qhubeka

4 Johann Rabie RSA (Team Bonitas)

5 Dylan Girdlestone RSA (Westvaal BMC) all same time

 

For full results, visit www.racetec.co.za

 

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