Winning the Fast One cycle race in Meyerton today has given Kent Main a major confidence boost ahead of the South African national road championships, which take place from February 5.
The ProTouch rider said the 97km route was quite flat so it did not really suit him. But victory on such a route had boosted his confidence, “especially as it is a couple of weeks before national champs”, said Main, who will focus on the time-trial at nationals.
“I’m quite excited to see what this will bring going forward into the rest of the year.”
Main, 25, said he was excited to have won the race even though it was not one he was aiming to win or even targeting.
Kent Main won the Fast One cycle race in Meyerton today. Photo: Supplied
“It’s more for training and to represent the team well. Most of our team are away in Gabon,” said Main, referring to his teammates currently competing in the Tropicale Amissa Bongo.
“The team did a really good job. There were only three of us and before I got away we were represented in every move. I’m pretty chuffed with how things went and hope this is the first of many [wins] for the year.”
Explaining how the race unfolded, Main said he got into a breakaway 15 to 20km into the race, which worked quite well.
“I think there were eight of us in total. The OfficeGuru guys [Alex Worsdale and Andrew Edwards] stopped working with 30km to go because they decided to chase from the back. I wasn’t too happy about this because then the two of them got a free ride.
“I decided to start attacking them, either getting them to work or letting them know that I’m not going to let them just get a free ride.”
He added that he attacked them a few times from about 25km out, but did not manage to get clear.
“I do think it kind of put a bit of a sting in their legs.
“With about 5km to go I managed to get away and get a decent gap as the guys hesitated. Then it was just head down and I raced all the way to the line and managed to hold off the chasers.”
Main said the last 5km was the hardest because it was an all-out effort.
“I didn’t know if it was going to be worth it, if I was going to stay away of get caught. That was definitely the hardest part.”
He said his focus now was on national champs. After that he would head off to the Tour of Rwanda.
“That is the big goal for the first half of the year.”
