South African Morne van Niekerk surged to victory in a 163km French race, the l’Agglomeration Saint-Avold Synergie, in Grand Est on Tuesday.
Morne van Niekerk atop the podium after winning the 163km l’Agglomeration Saint-Avold Synergie in France on Tuesday. Photo: Supplied
Van Niekerk, who hails from Pretoria and currently rides for the French-based Christian Magimel Sud-Ouest Cyclisme Formation, won the race in 3:50:22, beating Frenchman Axel Flet by 24 seconds.
He said he was glad to have “finally” cracked a victory after finishing on the podium a few times earlier this season.
“It was the first time I entered a race where I was given orders to wait until the last 30km before I made any decisive moves or attacks,” Van Niekerk told In the Bunch.
“I have been getting some good results, finishing second and third, but I have lacked that final bit in the end [of races].
“It has got to the point where I have become very marked in races.”
He then “sat and did nothing” in the bunch for most of the race, which he described as being one long 100km circuit, followed by six laps around a 10km inner circuit.
“I had to save all my energy to make the winning attack at the end,” he said. “I did exactly that.
“With 20km left, my teammate and I were in a group of five riders, but unfortunately he crashed. Then another group joined us, which is when I attacked and split the group up again.
“We were a selection of four riders, which I was happy with.”
Van Niekerk said there were a series of attacks on the smaller inner circuit, where riders tried their luck on two decisive hills.
“I attacked on the first hill, then on the second another guy attacked. I followed him and then we were left with three riders.
“On the last climb on the last lap – with the wind blowing from the right – I attacked as hard as I could on the left and I rode away with about three kilometres to go.
“I went as hard as I could to the top [of the hill], because I knew if I built a good lead by then they would not be able to catch me on the descent to the line.
“I got a real sense of euphoria getting my first win of the season. I was ecstatic.”
