Just like the men’s team winners, team Tiletoria Train set a record when they won the women’s division of the Double Century in Swellendam yesterday.
The team, led by 2017 SA Road Championship time-trial winner Bianca Holtzkampf, finished in 5:38:45, over an hour and a half ahead of the second-placed team, Peak Pelotan.
Holtzkampf’s team started the race with 11 riders but still managed to beat the record by almost 20 minutes.
Team Tiletoria’s Hazel Magill relishes an emotional Double Century victory in Swellendam yesterday. Photo: Craig Kolesky and Wayne Reiche
One of the team’s stars, Hazel Magill, said they had merely set out to ride according to their abilities.
“Our main goal was to finish ‒ and obviously win ‒ but to break the record was very special,” said Magill, who recently signed for Bestmed-ASG.
“When we crossed the finish line, half of us broke down in tears of joy; it was such an emotional victory.”
After participating in the event for the first time, Magill said the race had not got off to the best start for them.
“About 20km in we had lost one of our riders who had knee troubles.
“The first 100km was really tough. My legs felt tired and I really struggled on the climbs and steeper gradients.
“I was even afraid to look at my Garmin, because I knew I still had more than half the race to go.”
Magill said the second half of the race had gone much smoother, despite the tougher conditions.
“My legs began waking up and I started feeling really good. By then, most of the climbing had been done, and we worked really well as a team to wrestle through the headwinds.
“At our first water point we were well assisted by a professional bucket crew and by the girls who had dropped out earlier.
“We had a great team spirit and Bianca (Holtzkampf) led from the front. She spurred us on by making jokes and restored our morale, which was important.”
Magill said the 40km between the two water breaks over the last quarter of the race went by in a flash.
“There were only about two drags left. The rest was basically downhill, so it went super quickly.
“Although some riders began getting irritated as it got warmer and the wind picked up, we just buckled down and battled on until the final kilometre.”
The former Tour of Ireland best young rider said she would certainly consider riding in the Double Century again next year.
“We thought 202km was very far, but overall the race went by really quickly.
“It was really well organised. It did not even have full road closure, but the general public were supportive and respectful.”
RoadCover WCT rounded out the podium in 7:51:11.
More results can be viewed here.
