Maroesjka Matthee has declined her selection for the South Africa team for the African Continental Track Championships in Egypt. Photo: Cycle Nation
Maroesjka Matthee has declined her selection for the national team for the African Continental Track Championships in Egypt next month.
She was earlier this week selected in both the road and track teams for the championships to be staged in Cairo from March 2 to 6 and March 10 to 13, respectively.
However, she confirmed to In the Bunch today that she had communicated to Cycling South Africa her decision to withdraw due to the proximity of the African track championships to the SA National Road Championships in Swellendam from March 18 to 21.
“I declined my track spot because it’s too close to the national road championships,” said the 32-year-old Capetonian, who won gold in the road race at the African Games in 2019.
“Road is my focus at the moment and it’s hard juggling the two at that level.”
In 2015, Matthee won the individual pursuit, omnium, points and scratch races at the African championships. On that occasion, the SA team also brought the team pursuit title home.
Cycling SA confirmed to In the Bunch that no replacement rider had been named yet.
