Magdalene Nicholson hopes to top the podium in the women’s 800m race at the Paarl Boxing Day track cycling event next week.
Nicholson, who resumed cycling at last year’s event after a six-year lay-off, intends to compete in the 1 500m and 3km races as well.
Magdalene Nicholson will be gunning for glory in the women’s 800m race at the Paarl Boxing Day next week. Photo: Supplied
After her long absence, Nicholson surprised herself when she finished third in the 800m last year.
“The shorter distance is my strength,” she said today. “I’m a sprinter, so I normally specialise in the 800m and 500m time trials.
“That is where my focus will be next week. I may also stand a chance in the 1 500m, but I’ll see how things stand on race day.
“The 3km tends to be a bit difficult for me, especially when the other riders attack. I struggle to pace myself. But I’ll give it everything. I’ve got nothing to lose,” she said.
Nicholson, 29, said the hard work she had put in to qualify for the Commonwealth Games had helped her in her preparations.
“My form is pretty good,” she said. “We qualified with good times in Malaysia three weeks ago.”
Sascoc, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, must still decide whether to send a track cycling team to the Games in Australia in April.
“We’ll find out near the end of January,” Nicholson said, adding that she would try to use the Paarl Boxing Day event to see how far she has progressed.
“It’s been a rough year in the build-up to the Commonwealth trials,” she said. “I want to ride with a bigger gear ratio on the track to see how I compare with the other girls.
“I want to see if I can increase the ratio. There will be stiff competition from the likes of Maroesjka (Matthee) and Elfriede (Wolfaardt), so it’ll be a good measure of my capabilities.
“Being a Paarl girl, I’m really psyched for the race. And I’ll have the advantage of racing in my own backyard.
“It is a big event for me and I will go in with everything I have. I will be there to win,” she added.
