The Bestmed NMMU-Madibaz cycling team are focused on regaining the title they last won in 2014 when the University Sport South Africa championships are held in Port Elizabeth next month.
Competing in a three-day road tour against four other varsities – North-West, Pretoria, Stellenbosch and Varsity College – Madibaz Sport cycling manager Theresa le Roux said they would be aiming for, at least, a podium spot from July 10 to 13.
She said the team would focus on the road event, where their strategy would revolve around the promising Christiaan van Aardt. Backing him up will be Reich Lategan, Alberto Wilskut, Ayanda Dlamini, Nathan le Roux, Jared Lotz, Reinhardt Scholtz and Jean-Marie Oelofse.
Although there have not been that many races in PE recently, Le Roux said local knowledge could work in their favour.
Gert Heyns (left), seen here leading Arno du Toit during the recent PwC Great Zuurberg Trek mountain bike race near Addo, will be the riders to watch in the mountain bike race at the University Sport South Africa championships in Port Elizabeth next month. Photo: Full Stop Communications
“The team will be familiar with the routes and accustomed to the wind, which is always a factor here,” she said, adding that the USSA champs were their major goal of the season.
The road events will have a stage of 75km (57km for women) on the opening morning, followed by the longer stages (116km and 91km) on Tuesday.
There will also be a 12km individual time-trial, a 2.4km individual hill climb time-trial and a criterium, which will all count towards the overall team standings.
The times of the first three men and two women from each varsity would be added together for the team competition, said Le Roux.
The mountain bike race over 40km (30km for women) on the Thursday does not form part of the team competition.
National stars such as Gert Heyns (Stellenbosch) and Arno du Toit (Varsity College), who teamed up to place second in the three-day PwC Great Zuurberg Trek mountain bike race near Addo last month, will be the riders to watch in this event.
