Bryce Munro expressed satisfaction at the way he and Andrew Stockwell combined to win the overall Cradle Traverse title when the three-stage race finished in Muldersdrif, Gauteng, today.
Munro had taken a hiatus from cycling prior to the race and said he felt his pairing with Stockwell was a good way to find his feet again
Andrew Stockwell (left) and Bryce Munro won the overall Cradle Traverse when it finished in Muldersdrift today. Photo: Sage Lee Voges/www.zcmc.co.za
Furthermore, the two were forced to team up “at the last minute” before the first stage started, Munro said.
“Having the opportunity to race with him [Stockwell] was very special,” Munro told In the Bunch today. “He is a very strong rider, very well recognised on the open roads and he has a lot of power.
“Not knowing where my own form was and whether it was good enough to ride with him or not was quite a question,” he said. “But it definitely turned out to be a good combination.
“We complemented each other well, with my skill on the technical single tracks and his exceptional power on the open roads. I took some strain there [open roads] today where he was able to push some high watts and I would follow his wheel.
“Grant Usher was also following our wheels, which I think helped in his solo victory today.”
Although he adapted better to the single tracks, Munro said it wasn’t all plain sailing.
“The majority of the distance today was open, however the single track was testing,” he said. “Going through Kingskloof was not an easy route; it was very technical and fast-flowing.
“In some sections we were forced to run with our bikes. It definitely tested the riders. It was important to have the ability to cross rivers, go up steep climbs and be able to cope with the open-road areas.”
Munro commended women’s solo rider Amy McDougall, who alongside Candice Lill won the Cape Epic African jersey a few weeks ago.
“Amy did such a fantastic job. She is in such great form at the moment. It was really good to see a female rider ride at that level and speed.
“She was just off of our wheel, just a couple of minutes behind. The routes were difficult and for her to keep up, especially in the single tracks, was great.”
McDougall managed to finish just under four minutes behind the winning men’s pair in stage three and just over seven minutes behind in the final general classification.
