South Africa had a successful outing at the African Continental Track Championships in Morocco last week.
Jean Spies claimed six medals – five golds in the sprint, keirin, time-trial, team sprint (with Hylton Belitzky and Wade Theunissen) and team pursuit (with Joshua van Wyk, Steven van Heerden and Gert Fouché). He also won a bronze in the scratch.
Wade Theunissen, Jean Spies and Hylton Belitzky won gold medals in the team sprint at the African Continental Track Championships in Morocco last week. Photo: Supplied
Theunissen won silver in the sprint and time-trial, while Van Heerden won gold in the points race, silver in the scratch and bronze in the individual pursuit.
Fouché added to his medal tally when he won a gold in the indivual pursuit and silver in the points race.
Belitzky said the men’s points race was spectacular to watch.
“The South Africans where on the attack making it a fast and hard race, and Steven won after a sterling performance,” he said.
Belitzky also acted as manager to junior rider Courtney Smith, who won six gold medals.
“It was a good Continental Champs. The riders understood the UCI points structure and what they needed. Algeria and Morocco had some strong riders in the competition,” he said.
Results
Men elite
Sprint
1. Jean Spies (RSA)
2. Wade Theunissen (RSA)
3. Mehdi Belfares (MAR)
7. Hylton Belitzky (RSA)
Keirin
1. Jean Spies (RSA)
2. Ahmed Amine Galdoune (MAR)
3. Mehdi Belfares (MAR)
6. Wade Theunissen (RSA)
Time-trial
1. Jean Spies (RSA) 1:10:268
2. Wade Theunissen (RSA) 1:13:601
3. El Khacib Sassane (ALG) 1:13:946
4. Hylton Belitzky (RSA) 1:14:575
8. Kyle de Wet (RSA) 1:17:897
Points race
1. Steven van Heerden (RSA) 66
2. Gert Fouché (RSA) 51
3. Joshua van Wyk (RSA) 37
Scratch
1. Yacine Chalel (ALG)
2. Steven van Heerden (RSA)
3. Jean Spies (RSA)
Individual pursuit
1. Gert Fouché (RSA) 4:54:054
2. Mohcine El Jouraji (MAR) 4:58:527
3. Steven van Heerden (RSA) 5:04:890
4. Joshua van Wyk (RSA) 5:10:582
Team sprint
1. Jean Spies, Hylton Belitzky, Wade Theunissen (RSA) 1:07:297
2. Mohamed Bouzidi, Ayoub Karrar, El Khacib Sassane (ALG) 1:10:930
3. Mohcine El Kouraji, Zahiri Abderrahim, Ahmed Amine Galdoune (MAR) 1:13:437
Team pursuit
1. Joshua van Wyk, Jean Spies, Steven van Heerden, Gert Fouché (RSA) 4:42:850
2. Mohcine El Kouraji, Salaheddine Mraouni, Zahiri Abderrahim, Ahmed Amine Galdoune (MAR) 4:57:819
3. Karim Hadjbouzit, Mohamed Bouzidi, Ismain Lallouchi, El Khacib Sassane (ALG) 5:12:541
Women elite
Sprint
1. Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed (EGY)
2. Jennifer Abbot (RSA)
3. Donia Mohamed Rashwan (EGY)
Keirin
1. Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed (EGY)
2. Fatima Zahra El Hayani (MAR)
3. Elisa Gianchino (RSA)
Time-trial
1. Jennifer Abbot (RSA)
2. Elisa Gianchino (RSA)
Points race
1. Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed (EGY) 63
2. Donia Mohamed Rashwan (EGY) 45
3. Courtney Smith (RSA) 42
Scratch
1. Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed (EGY)
2. Donia Mohamed Rashwan (EGY)
3. Courtney Smith (RSA)
Team sprint
1. Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed, Donia Mohamed Rashwan (EGY) 52:123
2. Elisa Gianchino, Jennifer Abbot (RSA) 52:769
3. Mounia Benaji, Fatima Zahra El Hayani (MAR) 56:234
Women junior
Sprint
1. Courtney Smith (RSA)
2. Hakima Barhraoui (MAR)
3. Fatima Zahra Benzekri (MAR)
Keirin
1. Courtney Smith (RSA)
2. Hakima Barhraoui (MAR)
3. Fatima Zahra Benzekri (MAR)
Time-trial
1. Courtney Smith (RSA) 42:104
2. Hakima Barhraoui (MAR) 45:385
3. Siham Es-Sad (MAR) 46:105
Individual pursuit
1. Courtney Smith (RSA) 3:00:164
2. Siham Es-Sad (MAR) 3:03:927
3. Hakima Barhraoui (MAR) 3:17:298
