SA YOUNGSTER WINS DUPS MAFUTSENI CYCLE CLASSIC

MAFUTSENI – Visiting youngster, Demarco Pillay, has defied all odds to become the youngest cyclist to win the 100km Dups Mafutseni Cycle Classic.

The 16-year old maintained his cutting edge on the road with a time of 2:59:13 hours to come out tops in what turned out to be a photo finish at Mafutseni Caltex Garage outside Manzini yesterday.

The Galito’s club rider further beat countryman and defending champion Damon Halderman’s time of 3:08:20 hours to finish ahead of the equally forceful pair of Calvin Louw and Joseph Waring who also recorded 2:59:13 hours.

The championship expectedly never came on a silver platter for the champion as he found himself on the backfoot at some point.
The race started at Mafutseni through to Madlangempisi and back to the starting point.

The bubbly champion said featuring prominently in most races in the country in the past year came in handy.
“I was in the top five last year. I did my homework and prepared for the climbs.
It was a tough race overall.”

Waring said a puncture in the last 40km forced him to play catch up, saying hard training and discipline helped him to maintain his resolve.
Meanwhile, Louw, who won the race in 2011 and the following year noted that the pace was very fast but was relieved to beat his time of 3:08:29 hours recorded in the past year.

The main race also featured 50km and 20km events won by Ethan Young and Ilkah Laiela in 1:38:57 and 00:44:42 hours, respectively.

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