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By Nigel Laver & Assc.
Wilro Lion's Cycle Challenge- 17thApril 2011)
No doubt racing in our climate we're gonna get a race or two in the rain -
for sure. Of course when that race comes round we can only cross fingers
that it wouldn't happen on terrain where we'd have to belt down a bumpy,
twisty fast Hekpoort or even perhaps sprint it out for glory on a slippy
drag strip in the rain. oh, hang on, we just did. BUT the rain Gods held out
and even though we all wanted a group hug on the start line for warmth, the
beginning of the race was dry and chilly but it sure got WARM as we
progressed!
So, round 6 for the official, "unofficial" AL points challenge. For most,
the mid of March was the last time the heart rate was seen at max, a month
down the line, let's see who's still been training for Panorama or Tour of
Durban shall we and who's already packed the winter training away.
Even though we had some absentee's - a fair amount of the usual suspects
came, present were: My Gas duo Brendan Thompson and Werner Roux looking
ready for action, Esmero with a full squad, Cyclelab Toyota down to 3 plus 1
riding over from DL after the start - WHAT!? Trevor Davies, lonely Complete
Cyclist rider, the team of one: Stuart Fitzpatrick from Linden, 3 up for
C&C Spar and Steel and a fierce looking Bionic VO! So, not everyone BUT
enough to dish out the pain when it's needed.
Gavin Salt (Bionic VO) joked with 5mins to go that the guys who have been
training should come to the front to break the wind when we finally set off
- when the gun went, he was gone. The bunch didn't react, in fact before the
Maropeng road it seemed like a jovial Sunday training ride. Gavin was out of
sight by then. Zunaid Reciet (Esmero) attacked on the first incline of the
Maropeng road taking a rider with him but soon neutralized.
Already the head wind was playing a tactical game, it was strong from the
front and thus any attempt to go out on one's own was shortly evident not to
be too successful. This allowed the pace to appear more timid than the usual
pace up this piece of tarmac. Gavin Salt (Bionic VO) was only brought back
at the crest at Maropeng entrance of which the pace was high enough to shed
some riders but not strong enough to sheer them off for good.
The bunch was back together down the other side and into the base of the
south side of Hekpoort. A short climb in comparison to this climbs big
Sister on the other side. New face Harmony Rider Dannie Steyn getting off
the front here on this climb - shortly brought back on the false flat before
we fall down the other side. The dumb and stupid leading the way down this
fast decent. The pace continued on the roly poly bit before the t-Junction
towards Bekkers school.
Turning left into the Magalies road Cyclelab team attacked hard before the
corner and continued the acceleration after that turn stretching the bunch
out. As the gas came off Dannie Steyn (Harmony) shot out front again. No one
reacted and let him go. Rider with the yellow top on "Tys" (Mattys
Keokemoer) came to the front to assist in neutralizing. As the gas came off
again Nigel Laver (Toyota Lab) took a chance and bridged to Dannie Steyn
(Harmony). The two settled into a rhythm and with the undulation and twisty
turns of this section they got out of sight for a while.
Bionic VO's plan was to apply pressure on the Magalies stretch to shed some
hanger-on-ers. In full force (plus I'm sure some help from the strong
singles like Stuart and Trevor) they neutralized the break of two coming
through the Valley of Magalies town. However, it would be the next 10km
uphill drag between Magalies and the back end of the course will be the
deciding move and almost death to those silly enough to hang on.
Stuart Fitzpatrick (Linden), Trevor Davies (Complete Cyclist), Quintus (Pep
Stores), Andrew Bowker (Bionic VO) applied the pressure. Then they applied
some more pressure. Then, just to be sure we were being broken enough, they
got out of their saddles and applied a little more. The wind was behind so
the pace was high but the pressure was also high enough to make major
subtractions to the dwindling A bunch. When we eventually crested and turned
towards the Carltonville direction the break was made.
So, who was left? Of course the riders that started all the pain (Stuart,
Trevor, Andrew and Quintus) plus 2 from C&C but no Bennie Viljoen
(Bennie lost a crank arm near Maropeng) so that would leave Vaughn Henkel
and Gavin Salzmann. Toyota Lab down to two Jay Spendley and Nigel Laver.
Dannie Steyn (Harmony) managed to recover enough after the earlier break to
survive the arduous uphill acceleration. Bionic VO looking most menacing
with Roger Drok, Andrew Bowker and Gavin Salt still in the frame and
contention.So, how many is that? I count 11, nope, also Mattys Keokemoer
(Yello Jersey) and Pieter Avenant (Esmero). The results say 12 plus Quintus
makes it a break of 13. Right!
The back side of the course is mostly downhill, a couple of sharp ascents
but mostly flat, fast and down. Some senior management in the bunch assemble
some order and soon we were being very diligent with two pace-lines with
EVERYONE who made the break now continuing to keep the gap growing, however,
if we went only 80% of that pace I would assume we would have been safe. if
only we went 80%, or 90%, I would have been happy with 90% - Bliksem!
When we turn back East towards the 4 way stop that would lead left to the
track for the last 5km's the group still continued to work together. We were
fortunate that the wind was from the North east and thus enough space for
everyone to get a wheel and be protected for 14 other turns in the wind.
A little acceleration on this road here and there just to keep the heart
rate high enough that we all don't fall asleep (right!?) but for the most
part everyone taking their turn and everyone working well together.
On this stretch was where we caught the stragglers from groups that started
ahead of us plus the racing VC's and chasing VC's.
A little arjee-barjee from one rude MTN VC chase rider as we rode past and
he wanted to sit in to bridge to their VC winning break - HOW RUDE! It
seemed his group are pretty upset with his lack of sportsmanship so we won't
lose too much sleep over his actions. I'd flook him but can't remember his
name. (Koning Jacobs)
So, 5km's to go, conditions of the riders in the break were varying. As we
hit the final left hander at the 4 way stop before the track entrance, Gavin
Salt and Roger Drok (Bionic VO) came to the front and lay it down HARD. It
was gonna be Gavin Salt till the track then Roger Drok would lead the bunch
into the track to assist Andrew Bowker in the sprint. With about 500m before
the entrance 'BANG!" went Roger's tubby. He still rode it a while longer but
was strongly advised not to take the 90 left while still in the bunch at
speed with that loose tubby
) thanks for listening Roge!As we hit the drag strip for real, Mattys (plain yello jersey) shot off the
front followed by another rider (perhaps Quintus in Pep Jersey). Then a
combination of Trevor Davies, Andrew Bowker and Stuart Fitzpatrick followed
that, maybe not in that order. I left a HUGE dead wheel as my batteries ran
out, this gave Pieter Avenant and Jay Spendley a huge challenge to cross and
still stay in the frame for the final launch. Thank God that strip is 1km
long and luckily for me (yes me, as I gave the dead wheel) Mattys ran out of
juice thus slowing the 4 out in front up enough for Pieter to be able to
close in time with Jay in tow and still have time to recover before he went
again.
With 400m (could have been 200m) to go Pieter launched his final attack!
Trevor Davies managed to hold his wheel or it could have been Stuart or
Andrew. With ten's of meters to go Jay was able to come round the lot of
them to take his 2nd
win on the trot! Well done China! 2:57:53 was the time. Due to the
willingness of the break away to work together the break stretched their
lead to 7 and half minutes to the chase AL bunch. We presume the teams left
in that chase group did their best NOT to contribute.
Pieter Avenant (Esmero) 2nd
, Trevor Davies (Complete Cyclist) 3rd
, Stuart Fitzpatrick (Linden) 4th
and Andrew Bowker (Bionic VO) 5th
- Some of these results not a clear reflection of the riders true efforts
during the day.
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