Barzani Pro’s Tyler Day is hoping to make up for the bad luck he suffered at the Amashova Durban Classic on Sunday by earning a top result at the National Classic Cycle Race this weekend.
The race, which starts and finishes at Carnival City, Brakpan, is longer than the typical South African one-day race, spanning 125km.
Day felt hard done by at the Amashova after getting a “puncture in the first two kilometres”. His teammates brother Dusty Day, Jason Oosthuizen and Nico Thiart also suffered punctures, adding to their frustration.
“Once that happens you will not be able to get back to the front of the bunch because of the [quality of] riders,” Day told In the Bunch today.
“All of them clog up in small groups and while you’re in the back group it makes it very difficult to get to the front again,” he said, adding that the puncture occurred when they were in the gutter and hit crosswinds.
Barzani Pro’s Tyler Day is confident ahead of the 175km Kremetart Cycle Race. Photo: Supplied
He said the race was a “disappointment”, despite still managing to finish in a respectable eighth position.
Day came third in the Carnival City race last year and will look to make a strong showing again this weekend.
“We will obviously try to do well and hopefully we don’t get any bad luck [this time round],” he said.
“It’s a nice long race which should suit us.”
He will team up with his brother, Oosthuizen, Thiart and JC Nel this weekend.
Hailing from the North West Province, Day said the route was relatively flat, which he thought should be in their favour.
“I enjoy the fast, flat and windy races, as well as the longer distance,” he said.
“Here in the North West a railway crossing is a climb for us. We don’t usually train on climbs and that’s why we usually choose the flat races.”
Day said the racing would essentially start with about 40km left, adding that it would be important to conserve as much energy as possible in the first half of the race.
“Because of the distance it does make it easier for the guys who have some fuel in their legs.
“The plan is to conserve as long as we can and the guys who are fresher will come out on top in the end. The guys who haven’t put in enough training will fade.
“There are about 10 to 15 guys who are really starting to get good form and that will make it even harder.”
He added that he was feeling quite confident, having put in sufficient training for the Amashova.
“I’ve been training for the Amashova and the 947 Cycle Challenge [on November 18] and this race will be a very good block to do,” Day said.
“I will definitely try to win it. You never race for third or fourth place, you race to win and I’m confident ahead of the race.”
