Steven van Heerden and Joanna van de Winkel were crowned the Bestmed Satellite Classic cycling road race champions near Hartbeespoort Dam in North West Province today.
The 25-year-old Van Heerden, riding for BCX rider, held on in a sprint for the line to finish the 110km event in 2:35:18. He was followed home by Jayde Julius (ProTouch) and Dylan Girdlestone (OfficeGuru).
Van de Winkel, of Cycle Nation, created a gap going up Hekpoort in the latter stages of the race and maintained her lead to finish ahead of Carla Oberholzer (Demacon) and Zanri Rossouw (Clover). Her winning time was 3:11:24.
After several near misses, Van Heerden was delighted to take the victory.
“I’ve had a few years of bad luck in this race and it was great to be able to turn it around this time,” he said.
BCX rider Steven van Heerden (right), who won the race, forms part of the leading bunch in the Bestmed Satellite Classic 110km cycling road race near Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West Province today. Picture: Wayne Hanscombe
“We are now looking ahead to the Amashova [in Durban] next weekend and it’s nice to know the speed is there after putting in some hard work.”
He said the team had worked well together to set up his drive for the line, with Hoffman and Jooste part of an early breakaway.
“My team-mates, Nolan Hoffman and Chris Jooste, went ahead in a breakaway group at about the 30km mark. I missed that move, but the main bunch kept up the pace and we closed in at Hekpoort when they had a lead of just over a minute.”
He said a group of eight riders, including himself and colleague Brandon Downes, then got away when ProTouch led an attack.
With about a kilometre to go, Girdlestone made a move, but Van Heerden said he was able to stay with him.
“Brandon had set me up nicely and when Dylan attacked, I went with him and managed to get ahead. Jayde chased hard in the final stretch, but I was able to hang on for the win.”
The 36-year-old Van de Winkel, from Northcliff in Johannesburg was second last year, when she also led at the top of Hekpoort, but was caught just before the final sprint to finish in second place.
This time she was part of a group which broke away from the main bunch after the 70km mark, including Oberholzer, Rossouw and Azulde Britz.
“When we came to Hekpoort I basically just rode my own pace and when I looked back at the top there was nobody on my wheel,” said Van de Winkel.
“This was the same as last year, but this time I was able to keep the gap and it was really good to take the win.”
