Nic White's Momentum 94.7 win in his own words

Tuesday, 23 November 2010 14:02

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The Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, from the front!

On a day in Johannesburg when cyclists rule the streets, 24000 people race a lap around the city in the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge. This Sunday I made it to the finish line first! This is my tale of the race…

It is always an exciting race in Johannesburg, at the time that the jacarandas drop their purple flowers,. There was huge media attention, and a host of paparazzi and TV crews as we started the 14th edition of this event from Woodmead in the north of Johannesburg.

The first was a sizable group, those with the $ sign on their race numbers indicating the elite batch, but it was no where near the size of bunches that were to follow through the day.

Starting gently onto the M1 south highway (closed to all traffic for the morning) an early attack by Paul van Zweel (Toyota National Academy) livened things up. Unfortunately for him, the speed of the bunch was just a bit too much, and after 10 kilometers he was brought back into the fold of the peleton.

The race was still a little nervous as no one seemed intent on attacking. From team Medscheme we decided that the drags up into town were a suitable launchpad to spur things on, and started firing a few rounds. Once turning onto St. Andrews street, the effects of the long climbs, pace and altitude started to take their toll, and racing for the first king of the mountain prime, Denis van Niekerk (EMG) beat Dylan Girdlestone (MTN) to it.

This was the moment and under the intensity a few riders managed to bridge across to a little split. Getting a group of about 15 together Waylon Woolcock and I kept the pace on as we hoped to create a good split. With my heart beating at maximum, I did as much as I could to add to the pace as we sped down past Ponte tower and onto the highway again, I looked back trying to ascertain who was with us and I was pleased to note that Team Medscheme was well represented.

It was worth committing with all our energy until the gap to the bunch grew and it became safer to relax, and once through Ghandi Square and back onto the motorway again, I had a look around counted heads. All of our team had made this decisive split, and we had about another eight guys with us.

It was the time to put our backs into this break, as we wouldn't find too much support from the others but still a head wind awaited us over the Nelson Mandela bridge and then through the tree lined suburbs through to Randburg.

I was suffering, but knew that if we kept away from the masses behind, we had less riders to race against. It is always a worry that we may do too much pay for it later. Dave Brown of Toyota National U 23 Academy was making hay of the primes, but it was to be his undoing, as once the race headed west on Witkoppen drive, a few gaps started to appear as Waylon and I drove the pace on the front. We gained a little gap with Girdlestone, and riders started jumping across. A few missed out on this acceleration and Dave Brown was one of them. The group now numbered 12. This is who was present for the final 40kms: David Maree (House of Paint), Dennis van Niekerk (EMG), Dylan Girdlestone (MTN), Ian Mcleod (DCM) and Travis Allen were the few who rode in front with seven Team Medscheme riders: Arran Brown, Malcolm Lange, Waylon Woolcock, Neil Macdonald, Johann Rabie, Hanco Kachelhoffer and myself. This is an unusual situation in a big race, to have so many from one team, but we were motivated for the last race of the year, and giving it a full go!

Once we started onto the 'Krugersdorp' Highway the gap from us to the bunch was over 2 minutes, and I knew that there was probably no way they could return to us. We kept the pace up, and although Girdlestone attacked and got a good gap at the second king of the mountain prime of the day, I decided to pull him back. Malcolm and I had a quick chat and decided that we would try some attacks closer to the end.

By this point of the race we were starting to feel the effects of our efforts, and rounding off the highway and onto the next roads, I was keen to try something, although I was starting to really suffer. Waylon and Neil made such tempo on the next climb, that I could not try anything. It was too hard. Waylon, feeling quite good, saw that some guys were in difficulty, and then made his attempt and attacked. Girdlestone was attent and scrambled across to Waylon. The rest followed, and as it came together I decided to put in a counter attack. Once I did this I glanced around and quickly noticed I had no followers. I put my head down and tried to get into a rhythm after that initial acceleration. (which is rather difficult when you are in the red!)

Behind in the group, Van niekerk made a huge attempt to get across to me, but Malcolm had him covered, and I was now just out of reach for a quick acceleration. It would have to be a prolonged chase that would bring me back, but with 12 kilometers to go, and only a few riders (of differing teams) interested in the chase to me, the odds were not on their side. My team mates quickly decided to let me run, and if I was to be caught they would react. This gave me the opportunity to build on my lead, and although a tough section of road, with a cross wind and slight uphill drags, I soldiered on. I knew that if I reached the right turn towards Kyalami with a gap, then I was almost home.

I was going through a range of emotions: wanting to win again, (my first and only time in this event was 1997), but unsure that I had the strength. Not knowing exactly what is going on behind, you hope you are putting in enough effort, but are never sure. I struggled up the last hills, feeling that I was going too slow, but I couldn't go any quicker. I kept taking a peek over my shoulder, but it looked like I would have enough advantage over the final hills to relax!

Into a tuck I descended past Kyalami, and could recover a bit, with just a long drag up to the finishing complex of Waterfall estate. I realized it would be mine, and could somehow could not believe that it was my chance to win solo! There was a great crowd lining the streets into the Estate over the final half a kilometer. I zipped up my jersey, and made sure to be cautious around the final corners, (as a crash at this point would certainly rob me of the win!) I made a little sprint up towards the line, and then it was finally mine. To win the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge!

Behind me my team mates were doing what they do best and Arran Brown came across the line in second place, ahead of Malcolm Lange, David Maree and Dennis van Niekerk

The finishing time, 2h15m, perhaps a little slower than 2009, but the conditions were not so easy with wind, some heat and humidity. Hats must go off to all the folk who did the event, and spent hours on the roads throughout the day, either for a cause or personal goals. I am sure people will agree, that the race organisers did a fantastic job for arranging such an event in closed streets of Johannesburg. Everyone involved in the event deserves a thanks, as well as all the support along the route by spectators throughout the day.

On the podium afterwards, I received a yellow jersey for the win, and just had to ask: what was the stage the next day…? Perhaps in future we could see a little more of the streets of Jo'burg… at least for the elite bunch…

This was my final race with Team Medscheme, and it has been a great journey over the last few years. I have been with some of my team mates for a long time. I will continue to race next year, but I will have a full-time position within CycleLab in Fourways. This was perhaps my last race as a full time bike rider, but more about that another day!

Nic White

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