Defending champion Tiffany Keep will go into the Herald Cycle Tour, which takes place in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, after a gruelling four-day mountain bike race that finishes just the day before.
Tiffany Keep will line up for her second Herald Cycle Tour, which takes place in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Photo: QuickPix
The 19-year-old, who won the 106km event last year, is currently taking part in the Knysna Bull in the Western Cape.
Last year Keep surged to victory in a five-rider sprint finish, beating PE local Anriette Schoeman and newly crowned U23 road and time-trial champ Frances Janse van Rensburg to the line.
“Last year’s win was really cool for me. It was my first elite classic win in South Africa. I was very stoked about that,” said Keep, who made her debut at the event.
“Obviously everyone wants to win, but ultimately I think I just want to go do my best.
“Bearing in mind that I would’ve just finished a four-day mountain bike stage race. I’m going to do my utmost best with the legs that I have on the day and just see how it goes,” said Keep, who came fourth in this year’s U23 national road race.
Regarding the route, Keep said as far as she knew it was staying the same this year.
“It has pretty much been a fixed route since the start of this event. I enjoy the route. It has a bit of everything in it: some rolling hills, fairly decent climbs, fast descents and technical riding in terms of tight and twisty roads.”
Keep, who won the road race and came second in the time-trial at the KZN Road Championships last month, said this event was important to her as it enabled her to gain valuable experience on the road.
“Every race in SA I use as an opportunity to improve my skills, such as my bunch skills; learning to work in a bunch with others and trying new things.
“From a gaining-experience point of view it is very important in that respect.”
The Valley Electrical-Titan Racing rider added that she had not really put too much thought into her tactics for Sunday’s race.
“As I’m racing a MTB stage race beforehand I will be a bit occupied with that, but ultimately I’m just going to race my best race.
“What makes this event challenging would probably be that it’s in the Windy City. The wind plays a big role in road racing and when we ride along the coast it is pretty fierce.
“Just bearing that in mind while riding is key,” said Keep, who will tackle the Cape Town Cycle Tour next, an event in which she placed third last year.
