Luso AC/DC’s Chris Jooste used the experience of his team’s victory in stage five of the Mpumalanga Tour last year to help him win the corresponding race in this year’s event.
The race took place today as stage six, not five, due to an individual time-trial having been slotted into the tour as stage two.
However, the stage had to be shortened from 97km to 82km due to safety concerns after a vehicle accident caused diesel and oil to spill onto a section of the road.
Last year Luso AC/DC’s Calvin Beneke beat Gawie Combrink in a two-man sprint finish and Jooste won in similar fashion today, beating OfficeGuru’s Alexander Worsdale to the line.
Chris Jooste (left) beat Alexander Worsdale (right) two-man sprint finish on stage six of the Mpumalanga Tour today. Photo: Helen Beneke
Jooste, who raced last season for BCX, a team that folded at the end of 2018, said thanks to last year’s event he had some insight into how to win today’s race.
“We as a team won it before so we had a good idea about how to race the stage. Last year the break went early so I knew I had to make it into a good early move,” Jooste told In the Bunch today.
“I did that and I saw I had quality guys with me – yesterday’s winner Rohan du Plooy was one of them. Alexander was also with me and I knew how strong he was.”
The 23-year-old said he and Worsdale were fully dedicated to the break and went ahead some 20km into the race.
“It was tough going up Helshoogte, but it was a committed ride from both of us.
“I was lucky I could beat him; he had a really strong day out there as well. We had a very close sprint finish.”
Jooste said it was important to remain composed, with the bunch steadily closing in on them in the latter parts of the race.
“I had to keep my nerve and sprint at the right time. The bunch was mere seconds behind us at the end and it was a long straight finish as well.”
The Prince Albert local admitted he had doubts about whether he had the beating of Worsdale at times during the race.
“I had to gamble on the sprint because I knew I wasn’t really able to just ride away from him.
“The victory was important for the team to get the year off to a good start. You don’t want to see all these other teams winning and you go home with nothing.”
He said the team had eased some of the pressure on them after today’s stage and would head into the final showing tomorrow to “race as hard and entertainingly as possible”.
