SA TRIO CRUISES TO THE TOP

MAFUTSENI – Visiting cyclists proved invincible in the 11th edition of the United Holdings Mafutseni Road Cycle Classic yesterday.

With professionals from three clubs making a stop in the country for the race at Mafutseni Filling Station, locals knew they needed to swim with the sharks in chase of a podium finish. As predicted, professionals from South Africa opened an unassailable lead to make up the top three.

Proud Beginners Cycling Club’s duo of David Maree and Nolan Hoffman got involved in a photo finish to finish first and second in 03:01:51 and 03:01:52 hours, respectively. They were forced to look over their shoulders by another debutant Asher Biggs, who was a guest cyclist for the equally forceful PRO Touch Cycling Club. The latter clocked 03:02:31 hours to complete the list of podium finishers.

The trio, racing at an average speed of 33km/hour, did not only come out tops but did it in style after smashing records. Fellow countryman, Terry Ryan’s 2018 record of 03:07:44 hours tumbled. The latter was relegated to the fifth spot yesterday and he was about six minutes behind the champion.

Like in the past year, the race started at Mafutseni Total Filling Station and the route of the 120km event led the cyclists to the turning point at Nkambeni Methodist Church, which is 60km away. The terrain was made up of undulating hills and the competitors raced alongside places that included Luve, Mliba, Croydon, Dvokolwako, Madlangempisi and Bhalekane. They completed the course by returning to the starting point.

fierce

As envisaged, there was a fierce battle for a podium finish, but the chasing peloton had already been shaken off by the turning point. The leading trio was more than two kilometres ahead.

The country’s cyclists, especially those from Dig Deep, had also shown good attacking skills, but at the end, the first liSwati home was 2018 national road champion and 4EVA Club’s Morgan Rudd, who was 14th overall. He clocked 03:18:46 hours.
“It was a tough race, especially in the last 20km,” said the proud champion.

Hoffman, who was the champion of the 2018 MTN Khemani Classic, last year, shared the same sentiments, saying the climbs proved challenging.
Meanwhile, third-placed Biggs needed assistance to recover at the finish line. He said it was his first race, as he became a cyclist about a month ago.
In the ladies section, the daring Sandra Haywood from South Africa, who is more into off-road races, claimed gold in her first attempt. 4EVA Club’s duo of Dinize Wilsch and Sebenele Magongo was second and third after defying all odds to endure the torturous course.

Ncamiso Kunene from Dig Deep clocked 01:57:31 hours to win the second longest race, which was 60km long.
The ever-shining Malik McNamara was the 20km winner while Pieterse Yassin claimed the championship in the 10km category.   
The top three category winners got a share from a E30 000 purse and the overall champion pocketed E4 000. Minister of Tourism and Environment Affairs Moses Vilakati was a guest and presented the winners.

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