After finishing third in the Cape Town Cycle Tour last year, Tiffany Keep says her main goal for this year’s edition on Sunday is to do her best and have fun.
Tiffany Keep aims to do her best and have fun at the Cape Town Cycle Tour tomorrow. Photo: Marc Fourie
The 19-year-old has competed in the event twice before and says it’s one of her favourite races on the calendar.
“I really enjoy doing the Cape Town Cycle Tour,” Keep told In the Bunch.
“Obviously everyone who lines up at the start wants to win, but I just want to be able to give my best on the day and have fun while doing it.”
Keep, who will be competing in the event for the third time, says she has learnt a lot from the previous races and her results show as much.
“Two years ago I think I placed 12th overall. I had mistimed and misjudged my sprint and the length of the finish straight and the tactical error cost me greatly.
“However I was very happy to learn from my mistakes and better my result last year, where I finished third.”
The Valley Electrical-Titan Racing rider says while she’s had a bumpy start to the year it has been a learning curve.
“I’ve had my fair share of bad luck from the start of the season but I have also learnt a lot in the process.
“I’m looking forward to try and turn things around from now on and I’m really excited for the Cape Town Cycle Tour.”
Keep says she is expecting to see some hard and aggressive racing at the event, “especially when a lot of ‘big names’ are competing in it”.
“The 78km route is obviously a lot shorter than the full distance but the racing is always just as hard.
“I really enjoy racing aggressively and hard, especially when the mountain bikers come and give everyone a run for their money.
“It’s always really great to participate in racing like that which is always so positive.
“It really makes you feel like you earned your spot wherever you finish and feel happy with your own personal performance.”
When it comes to the famous climbs of the event, Smitswinkel, Chapman’s Peak and Suikerbossie, Keep says there will be some hard racing ahead.
“It will really be a war of attrition to see who will be able to survive the last climb up Suikerbossie.”
Keep will have Lucy James, Danielle Strydom and Barbara Benko riding in her team.
“This year I am in the fortunate position to have some other guest riders on the team and riding with us.
“We will be working together to help each other equally.”
She says the event is a highlight on most cyclists’ calendar and always fun to participate in, no matter your skill level.
“The Cape Town Cycle Tour is a race that everyone in South Africa knows, regardless of whether you are a competitive cyclist or not.
“To get another good result at this race would be a big boost in my mind and it would be another amazing feat.
“I am really excited to go out there and give my best.”
