Team MTN-Qhubeka’s Louis Meintjes climbed his way to a win in three hours, 46 minutes and eight seconds (3:46:8), on the second stage of the five-day Mzansi Tour race at the Golden Gate in the Free State yesterday.
Team MTN-Qhubeka continued its dominance on the Mzansi Tour after South Africa’s national road champion Louis Meintjes climbed his way to victory. Photo: INLSA
The talented climber outclassed fellow teammates Merhawi Kudus, who was 45 seconds behind, and Daniel Teklehaimanot, who came in third, rounding up the yellow podium.
Jacques Janse van Rensburg (MTN-Qhubeka) retained the yellow jersey after finishing fifth on the stage, opening up a 43 second lead ahead of Meintjes, who creeped into second on the general classification (GC), while Kudus climbed to the third spot.
Janse van Rensburg was also named as the best African rider on the day and took the points jersey, while Meintjes walked away with the best young rider jersey as well as the king of mountain (KOM) jersey.
The 155km stage started in Clarens, went through Bethlehem and Kestell, before ending with a mountain top finish at the Golden Gate national park.
There were a few attacks in the early stages of the race, but they did not amount to much as they were neutralised by the peloton.
A patch of heavy road on the N5 heading to Bethlehem slowed the peloton, bringing the speed down to 30 kilometres per hour.
An hour into the race Willie Smit (Team vini Fantini-Nippo-De Rosa) made a solid attack and was joined by Jayde Julius (Bonitas Pro Team) and Ryan Felgate (South African national team), opening up a 20 second gap ahead of the peloton.
The three briefly maintained their lead before they were brought back.
Today’s Mzansi tour stage is a 201km ride from Bethlehem to Vanderbijlpark. – Sapa
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