RoadCover professional Clint Hendricks will be looking to add to an impressive list of major city road cycling race victories when he competes in the Tshwane Classic in Pretoria on Sunday.
The 26-year-old from Johannesburg won the Cape Town Cycle Tour last year and has enjoyed a wave of success this year, the most recent triumph being the National Classic Cycle Race at Carnival City this past weekend.
He also showed his credentials in April when he was fifth overall in the Tour of Eritrea and followed that up with a triumph at the Tour Durban in May.
Now Hendricks is looking forward to testing himself in the 98km feature race in Pretoria.
RoadCover professional Clint Hendricks will be aiming to continue his good form when he tackles the 98km feature race at the Tshwane Classic in Pretoria on Sunday. Photo: Memories 4 U Photography
“I am really looking forward to it and it’s definitely one I want to win,” he said. “It will keep the motivation high for the last big one of the year – the 947 Challenge (November 19).”
Hendricks said he felt the Tshwane Classic route would suit his style.
“I have never really considered myself a pure sprinter and on a route which is undulating, with a few climbs, it’s the type of ride that suits my abilities.”
He added, though, that he knew there would be tough opposition for the top spot on the podium.
The ProTouch team would always be in contention, said Hendricks, and added that a rider such as Bestmed Tour of Good Hope champion Kent Main (DiData) would be dangerous on a route that “would suit his skills”.
“I am not sure who BCX will have there but they always make an impact.”
One section he feels will play a factor is the famous Tom Jenkins climb, which comes near the end of the race at the 80km mark.
“It’s a hard climb and with just over 10km to go it is going to play a big role in the outcome.”
The Tshwane Classic, which starts and finishes at the Voortrekker Monument, will also offer distances of 60km and 20km, while a series of kiddies’ races will be held within the grounds of the race venue.
