Alfa Bodyworks went one better than last year to win the men’s race at the Double Century team time-trial in Swellendam on Saturday. Photo: Chris Hitchcock
A slight change in format for the Double Century team time-trial in Swellendam on Saturday saw Alfa Bodyworks use their tactical knowledge to take the men’s title.
It provided some redemption for the 10-rider team after they finished the iconic 202km event in the Western Cape in second place a year ago.
Guided by experienced pros Shaun-Nick Bester and HB Kruger, the powerful unit finished in 4:38:07 to beat Hartlief Deli Powerbar by just over 12 minutes.
The other members of the team were Ironman ace Kyle Buckingham, Rossouw Bekker, Ben Fisher, Bradley Gouveris, Jean-Pierre Lloyd, Byron Munton, Louis Visser and Jayde Julius.
Bester put their victory down to a case of the team working well together and using their tactical nous.
“This year’s Double Century format was different to the previous editions, when you had two neutral zones and two compulsory stops,” he said. “This year they made it only one neutral zone and one compulsory stop.
“So that made for a much more tactical approach to our race and obviously we had to ride a bit more conservatively.
“That was the plan from the beginning as we took the first segment a little bit easier to make sure we got to the first neutral zone with all 10 riders intact.
“Having achieved that, we were then able to use the team to its fullest extent to maximise the time gap against the second team in the latter half of the race.”
Bester said the weather was good, but he was happy that they were able to make a 5am start as it did heat up later.
“It’s a really early start, but I think that played into our favour because it did get very hot later.
“I remember driving from Swellendam at about 2.30pm and the teams who started later were really suffering out there.”
