Barzani Pro Cycling’s Tyler Day is targeting a place on the podium at the 180km Double90 Team Challenge, which takes place in Free State on Saturday.
The Double90 is a team time-trial with each team comprising 12 riders.
Barzani Pro Cycling riders pictured cycling together. Photo: Supplied
Day feels his team has the quality of riders to get the job done, but he warned they might still face challenges.
“The route will be over four hours of grinding,” Day said. “I am a sprinter, so usually I would push my efforts about once or twice. But now all of us will have to be in the same ring. It can be tough.”
Barzani Pro will be the third-last team to set off, Day said, with three-minute intervals separating the final 10.
He feels Officeguru Racing and Bluff Meat Supply, starting last and second last respectively, will pose the biggest threats in the time-trial.
“It is going to be difficult to identify with them in this kind of ride,” Day said. “They are starting after us, so you can never estimate how strong they will be or how they will do.
“It is also not about who is riding in each of those teams – the distance will have to talk for itself.”
Day feels the route will suit his team. “I think all of the teams will take it easy on the first hill going out of Clarens,” he said.
“After that – towards Bethlehem – the route is fairly flat, which will suit my brother [Dusty Day] and the rest of the guys.
“With about 30km to go, after hitting the ‘mineshaft’, the real boys come out. That is when the strongest six finish for the team.
“That is when you determine how hard you can go and for how long.
“The distance – 180km – is manageable. It isn’t as long as the Double Century, so it is a distance that most riders can do. But the difficulty of riding together can be challenging.”
