Team Demacon’s Kim le Court said she could not have hoped for a better outcome after she won her fourth consecutive race at the inaugural 100 Cycle Challenge in Germiston today.
Le Court won the Cape Town Cycle Tour two months ago, followed by victory at the Emperors Palace Road Classic a couple of weeks later and then the Tour Durban last week.
She said the route suited her style of racing. “It was tough, but it suited me,” Le Court told In the Bunch. “I am in good form at the moment and I even got sick with flu so I did not have the best training this week.”
Kim le Court, pictured here, said she could not have hoped for a better outcome after she won her fourth consecutive race at the inaugural 100 Cycle Challenge in Germiston today. Photo: Supplied
Cashandra Slingerland made it tough for her on the day, Le Court explained. “Cashandra got away early in the race. I then decided to bridge the gap after my teammates Carla [Oberholzer] and Lynette [Burger] made it hard up a drag.
“I tried my luck and attacked. I stayed at the front between Cashandra and the bunch for about 10km and I thought I could never join her [Slingerland].
“I got caught by the bunch, but a few kilometres later I could see Cashandra was closer. I tried again to bridge the gap and this time it worked and I caught her.”
She and Slingerland then got caught by the bunch which is when they had to make decisive moves in order to come out on top.
“We had to go very hard up the last climb before the downhill finish to the line,” Le Court said. “That is where Carla did an amazing job.
“On the last downhill sprint it was all up to Lynette and me to deliver, which we managed to do perfectly,” she said, as Burger finished third.
“We did a great job as a team and we rode very well together. We trust each other and with that will always come good results.”
Le Court said she and her teammates had to communicate a lot in order to nullify Slingerland after she broke away.
“It was challenging to decide what to do. We had to chat a lot with each other to figure out a way to reel her back in and try to win the race.”
Le Court was however “disappointed” with the overall standard of competition in the race.
“I expected more, sadly,” she said. “The teams today were riding very negatively and it was sad to see that.
“The past few races have not been as bad [as today’s race]. I wish the girls would come out and race their bikes, because that is the reason we are out there.”
Le Court said the UCI points were taken away for the elite women’s race and this disappointed her. “That was super important to some of us,” she said.
“It was important for qualifying for the Olympic Games and more. I am super sad and angry that some people just do not understand what really matters in cycling.
“It is not always just about the money. Some boys and girls out there have dreams that they want to achieve.”
