Janse Van Rensburg, Taylor Crowned SA Elite TT Champions
Nelspruit was abuzz with South Africa’s top road cyclists today for the opening race of the Mpumalanga Sport Council 2012 SA National Road Cycling and Time Trial Championships.
The cream of the crop took to the roads on their own, battling the hot, humid and still conditions in the Individual Time Trial discipline, marking the start of what is expected to be four great days of top notch road cycling.
MTN Qhubeka’s Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg dominated the Elite men’s race, clocking the fastest time on the 40km Elite Men’s course in 50 minutes 40.25 seconds, whilst Momentum Toyota’s Cherise Taylor secured her second consecutive Championship title completing the 30km women’s course in 45 minutes 34.92 seconds.
Twenty three-year-old Pretoria resident Van Rensburg was elated with his victory following dedicated preparation leading up to the event. “It’s quite special to be the SA Time Trial Champion,” said Van Rensburg. “The team trained here in Nelspruit two to three weeks ago and we knew the course really well. Our training was specific on our Trek ‘Speed Concept’ time trial bikes – they are really top of the range and our equipment is all the latest technology.”
Last year’s international racing results has boosted Van Rensburg’s confidence ahead of the SA Road Champs: “Since the start of the season I knew that I could win this, and the preparation has paid off. The course was undulating and quite hard. I realised that if I was in trouble on the course, that I would not be able to make up the time again, and fortunately I managed to pace myself well.”
In the women’s race, 22-year-old Taylor was equally elated with her new title: “It was pretty hard, a time trial is always hard!” exclaimed the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast cycling star. “The competition was tough, but I was so fortunate to have a great team manager David Pieterse, who really motivated me today. I am really ecstatic for winning the title; it is such a hard discipline to win!”
Taylor’s preparations have been solid in the lead up to the SA Championships, and her recent move to training with coach Dr. Jeroen Swart is going really well. “Jeroen is monitoring my power and heart rate on a weekly basis. I leave for Europe on the 23rd March, and I am really looking forward to the rest of the year.”
When asked about the upcoming road race, the new Time Trial champions feel they are ready for the challenge. “I hear that Saturday’s route is quite tough. My favourite for Saturday’s race is Ashleigh or Robyn (de Groot). I hope that the teams come together and make a good race out of it,” said Taylor. “It is a privilege to wear a national jersey.”
“I’m feeling quite positive for Sunday,” said Van Rensburg. “Some of the pressure has been relieved now.”
RESULTS – Mpumalanga Sport Council 2012 SA National Road Cycling and Time Trial Championships – Thursday – 01 March 2012
Elite Men Individual Time Trial – 40km
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (Team MTN Qhubeka) 00:50:40.25
Jay Thomson (United Health) 00:50:53.15
Johann Rabie (Team Bonitas) 00:50:54.26
Elite Women Individual Time Trial – 30km
Cherise Taylor (Momentum Toyota) 00:45:34.92
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Momentum Toyota) 00:46:52.10
An-Li Pretorius (Team MTN Qhubeka) 00:47:07.83
U23 Men Individual Time Trial – 40km
Louis Meintjes (CyclingSA Toyota National Academy) 00:51:41.68
JC Nel (Team MTN Qhubeka) 00:52:02.09
Myles Van Musschenbroek (Top Club Tasol) 00:54:22.39
Junior Men Individual Time Trial – 30km
Rohan Du Plooy 00:42:01.07
Johannes Nicolaas Thiart 00:42:14.47
Wesley Eslick 00:43:21.58
Junior Women Individual Time Trial – 20km
Heidi Dalton 00:28:37.06
Rosemarie De Vink 00:31:50.79
Corlia Van Der Merwe 00:31:58.19
Elite, U23 Student Men Individual Time Trial
Viehann Du Plessis 00:59:57.69
Kevin Patten 01:00:10.84
Elite Student Women Individual Time Trial
Lilandi Swanepoel 00:50:23.53
Ashleigh Blackwell 00:54:13.04
Inaugural Team Time Trial race
Early morning warm temperatures continued to soar when four of the country’s top road cycling teams took to the streets on day 2 of the Mpumalanga Sport Council 2012 SA National Road Cycling and Time Trial Championships.
The inaugural Team Time Trial race, which was open to South Africa’s Top Clubs and the SA Continental Teams, saw only four teams line up to take the challenge that started at Kaapmuiden and finished at the Mbombela Stadium.
It was a polished Team Bonitas who set themselves apart from the rest of the field when they claimed the national title by a winning margin of 2 minutes and 26 seconds. Darren Lill, Ian McLeod, Johann Rabie, Johannes Kachelhoffer, Tyler Day and Jason Bakke formed the successful sextet who completed the 47.8 km course in 01:02:56.9.
Top Club Nuwater were the second team home, whilst Top Club a[s]g Under 23 finished third, and CyclingSA Toyota National Academy finished fourth.
According to Team Owner Malcolm Lange from Lange Sports (who runs Team Bonitas), everything on the day went according to plan: “The guys did a good job today – they trained really hard for this and it paid off.
“Early on, they were about two minutes down on time, but the guys turned on the gas about half way through the course and ended up finishing with a two-and-a-half minute lead. Compliments must go to the team captain Ian McLeod who kept it all together – we lost Tyler (Day) at the 20 km mark, but by keeping the rest of the team together they had good horse power in the end.”
Lange feels that the TTT is an important aspect of road cycling racing preparation as it teaches the team to race together, and it involves specific training and equipment. “The team is only as strong as their weakest member,” he said.
With the first two days behind them, Team Bonitas are now looking ahead to Sunday’s road race where Darren Lill will be looking to defend his national jersey.
Event organiser Hendrik Wagenaar was very happy with how today’s race panned out. “Everything was perfect and the inclusion of the Team Time Trial added some excitement to the event and was very well received. Following the great success, I think that this race will be far better supported next year.”
The weekend’s racing is set to continue entertaining families, supporters and cycling fans when the women’s road race takes to the streets on Saturday with the men’s road race closing out the proceedings on Sunday.
RESULTS – Mpumalanga Sport Council 2012 SA National Road Cycling and Time Trial Championships – Thursday – 01 March 2012
Team Time Trial – 47.8km
Team Bonitas 01:02:56.9
Top Club Nuwater 01:05:22.8
Top Club a[s]g Under 23 01:07:40.9
CyclingSA Toyota National Academy 01:08:18.9
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