Tuesday, 19 October 2010 16:18
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Brown and Durban winners at Amashova
by Nic White
Our weekend started differently at the MTN Amashova in Durban. A new format of racing had been decided by the organisers. An evening points criterium at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night, and then a rest day for some, before the big 'down' ride on Sunday along the route of champions between 'Maritzburg and Durban. This is my tale...
With the expected wet weather forecast for Friday, it had been decided that a race around the underground parking was in store for all the top riders concerned! A night criterium around a half moon circuit with four corners and two chicanes was the order of route. The format: 70 laps to be ridden for points with points available on every fifth lap! (points 5;3;2;1 each sprint lap) This was fun, as the lap was less than a kilometre, and all that was missing to romanticise the race was loud music, cigarette smoke and the smell of stale beer (how I imagine a European winter track six day would feel?)
Starting with a 'neutral' lap to sort out the order, it was 'flat box' as we juggled for position, and pushed out accelerations after acceleration from the corners and G-force from the crescent turn that lasted 500m. This was intense! I had been pretty nervous before the race as the corners were tight, the surface smooth with a few man hole covers to dodge, and no room for error! I feared a little tangle or slip would loosen a few screws, so I was conservative for the frost few laps until I got into it and decided I had better move up in the field before my lungs or legs blew up from the accelerations after each corner.
Move up I did, and it was my team mates that were on the front holding a strong tempo, while Johann Rabie was taking many early points, enjoying the corners and his skills to get through first and win some sprints! I decided to put myself to good and use ride on the front for the team, but easier said than done. After pulling for a bit, the speed would increase for a sprint lap, and then the front riders would be swamped and pushed aside, having to maintain the effort and re-fight up to the front. This was only possible a few times and Team Medscheme's gladiators were trying to control the front. They did so for a while before succumbing to the taste of blood, burning lungs and lactic acid build up.
I was out before halfway in the race. I could no longer follow the accelerations after each corner and the prime laps. My throat and lungs were bursting and my heart rate was in the sky. I lost some ground and the effort to stay on the wheel in front was keeping me close to 100% and I was eventually ridden off. Many others were gone too. The field was small, and Rabie was still looking good. He took one corner to many at too much pace, and got caught behind a slower rider, having to break, and lost his front wheel. He crashed and could not continue. This gave Christoff van Heerden the chance to take the lead, and he now showed his prowess above the others in the corners, and acceleration for the primes. Burry Stander was enjoying the intensity and technicality of the race, and once thoroughly warm, Arran Brown also got into it. Van Heerden was on top of it, and as the field was whittled down to just a handful, and the final lap offered double points. Brown managed to get one over Van Heerden, but it was too little too late, and the MTN rider was crowned champion for the night. Just 3 points separated the first 2 with Burry Stander finishing in third!
Results: 70 laps 'points race' criterium
1st Christoff van Heerden (MTN Energade) 42pts
2nd Arran Brown (Team Medscheme) 39pts
3rd Burry Stander (Specialized) 25pts
The following day we rose at a reasonable hour, and enjoyed an hour and a half ride to visit the finish venue for the race the following morning and also a slow twiddle to Umhlanga and back in some crisp cool weather. My team and I were somewhat surprised by the courtesy and encouragement we encountered from motorists along the way! It is unusual to have vehicles drive patiently behind our group, and motorists shout good luck out their window for the upcoming race the following day. Durban must have some inbuilt respect for the Right 2 Ride, I am not sure, maybe we were just lucky…but it was refreshing and encouraging!
Big race day and Amashova time, after the previous evening's rain, the day was perfectly cool and dry and with little wind. The race seemed to have less numbers in the Elite field than usual, and the group started off sedately. Rather uncommon? We had a plan and were waiting to try and implement it. So very little action seemed to take place despite solo attacks by various riders including: Gawie Combrink (TCS), Anton Davis (Asics) and Travis Allen (Schwinn). Their efforts did not bear fruit for long, but once the race reached the 1000 Hills area, we tried to spice things up. Little attacks went away but the race between MTN, House of Paint and Medscheme was keeping everything contained. Burry Stander got into some pretty useful moves, but no freedom was allowed. The bunch knew that if no break had formed with 40 kilometers remaining, then there was all likelihood of a bunch sprint finish at the end. Thanks as well to the stiff wind blowing in from the sea, curbing all good attacks! Hotspots along the way were gobbled up by Dennis van Niekerk (EMG), Travis Allen (Schwinn), Dean Edwards and Michael Pepper (both House of Paint).
In the final kilometers Peter-Lee Jeffries tried his luck in getting away, and although he managed to stay clear for a few kilometers, the gaps were kept tight and the run in to the City was by the complete bunch. Team Medscheme had enjoyed a hugely successful race in 2009, and were aiming to repeat the win. Going into a sprint finish is always a gamble despite what you may think of your abilities, and this was no different. Into a headwind it is sometimes difficult to judge an effort and mistakes are easy to make. We had to take control of the race, and this is what we had partially planned for on the day. Some late attacks threatened to spoil the finish, but we used ourselves wisely to contain them, and then in the last two kilometers we opened up the leadoff. Into the headwind we struggled to keep our efforts going long, but our guys used their experience, and in the fight for position, our two main sprinters, Arran and Malcolm allowed the Reinardt Janse van Rensburg into their line. This forced him to start his sprint a bit early, and then unleashing their best efforts, Arran Brown and Malcolm Lange managed to come around and secure the win and runner up positions for the day! Tyler Day of EMG Cycling was third from Janse van Rensburg in fourth!
I had been active in the race, not feeling my best, but also surprised by some of the lack of enthusiasm of riders to try and escape. I think though that it was probably due to the strong head wind that curbed the attacks. I tried to get a move or two going, also setting up some of the attacks by my team mates. Nothing came of it, and my win from 1999 wasn't going to be repeated. But then things have changed. A playing field with bigger and more organised teams. Also my role is a little different with me assisting the winning effort, and having an integral role to play in that process is almost as rewarding. Cycling is a team sport, and most times the winner comes from the work of many individuals putting in their best effort to insure success of the group!
Results: 106km
1st Arran Brown (Team Medscheme) 02:24:08
2nd Malcolm Lange (Team Medcsheme)
3rd Tyler Day (EMG Cycling)
4th Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (MTN Energade)
5th Dean Edwards (House of Paint)
6th Burry Stander (Specialized)
7th Dusty Day (House of Paint)
8th Jason Bakke (House of Paint)
9th Christoff van Heerden (MTN Energade)
10th Bradley Potgieter (MTN Energade)
We had enjoyed our weekend down at the coast, and must say that Durban has been the host to a few great cycling events this year. I have enjoyed two of them recently. The Moses Mahbida Stadium is proving to be a great finish venue, and with the Friday night race, wouldn't it be great to build on that with a little 'up' Race on the Saturday before the traditional 'down' race of Sunday? Just a thought….possible to throw in a yellow jersey and all..?
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