ProTouch’s Reynard Butler commended a good team effort for their time-trial victory in stage three of the Tour de Limpopo in Tzaneen today.
“It was a solid team effort today,” Butler told In the Bunch after the race. “We cannot point out any individual guy who was exceptional; we were all on it today.
“It managed to pay off and we are all really ecstatic with the win. We obviously went into the time trial needing to defend our yellow jersey [Gustav Basson] and we did that perfectly.
“We could not have asked for a better outcome today.”
Team ProTouch riders pictured atop the podium after their third stage team time-trial victory of the Tour de Limpopo in Tzaneen today. Photo: ProTouch Sports
Butler said it was challenging to prepare specifically for the team time-trial before the tour started.
“It was difficult to prepare as a team,” he said. “Some guys are far out – some are in Pretoria and others on the East and West Rand.
“Fortunately we have three or four riders on the West Rand and we did one or two sessions together on the time-trial bike.
“It was not as much preparation as we wanted but we sort of just got the feel of how the time trial would be. We also have guys in the team who specialise in time trials, which helped a lot.”
Butler said the team went to recon today’s route early this morning before the time-trial started.
“We knew it was going to be a fast time trial and that the guys would have to be very solid, while keeping the momentum and flow.
“We were carefully watching each other and communicating as much as we could so that we were able to perfect the flow of the train.”
Communication was tricky though. “It was challenging to communicate and keep our six riders together towards the end,” Butler said.
“We did lose two guys, but when that happened we knew the other four riders had the responsibility to take it to the line and put out the best performance possible.
“The course was relatively plain and simple; it was not too technical. It was sort of like a circuit and we took the corners very carefully.
“It was important for the team to stay together as a unit.”
Basson retained his yellow jersey ahead of the fourth and final 97km stage tomorrow and Butler said it would be important for the team to control the race.
“We will have the pressure of securing our yellow jersey, so I reckon other teams may come out all guns blazing tomorrow.
“We will have to ride as a unit and take as many guys as possible to the line.”
