Andrea Steyn will be looking to take her form from last month’s Bestmed Satellite Classic into the 947 Cycle Challenge when she joins Team Bestmed-ASG for the Johannesburg classic on November 20.
The 32-year-old Centurion rider will be competing in her second race with the Bestmed-ASG outfit after being invited by team manager Owen Botha to join them for selected events.
Andrea Steyn will be riding for Team Bestmed-ASG in the 947 Cycle Challenge on November 20. Photo: Supplied
The first came at the Satellite Classic near Hartbeespoort Dam when she sprinted to a third place behind national star Lise Olivier and Ethiopia’s Eden Hailemariam.
Now Steyn, who is chiefly a triathlete, is keen to reap the benefits of racing with a team at the 947 Cycle Challenge as she strives to improve on her fifth place finish last year.
“It was great to have that support from a team,” said the former African triathlon champion. “You just feel so comfortable if you have someone to assist you if you need to go to the front.
“They are a wonderful bunch of girls and I’m looking forward to riding with them again at the 947.”
Steyn said she knew she would have a tough race in the 947 Cycle Challenge and that anything could happen.
“My objective will be to stay with the front bunch until the end because it can get quite tough towards the finish.”
She added she was happy with her form at the Satellite Classic where she stayed with the breakaway bunch of seven riders.
“The Bestmed Satellite Classic was a good test and I was a bit surprised I had such a good race.
“I’m doing a lot of cycling now so hopefully that will help me to get an edge in the 947.”
With Ashleigh Moolman Pasio – who placed 10th in the road race in Rio – not defending her title due to injury, Steyn singled out Olivier as the rider to watch.
“Lise is very strong at the moment. She has done a lot of cycling in Spain and to me she is really a hot favourite.”
