Matteo Damilano’s his first race as a U23 rider proved to be a memorable one. Photo: Instagram
The first Gauteng XCO Cup stop on the 2021 calendar took place in sweltering conditions at the XCOSA Bike Park at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria over the weekend.
Riders suffered in the reported 36 degree Celsius temperatures with the 141m of climbing per 4.6km-long laps making the afternoon a testing one for all concerned.
However, for Matteo Damilano, his first race as a U23 rider proved to be a memorable one.
Having dominated the Gauteng XCO scene in his youth and junior years, Damilano’s U23 debut was much anticipated and he didn’t disappoint in finishing second behind PYGA Euro Steel’s Pieter du Toit.
“I can definitely say it was a tough one!” Damilano said post-race.
“The African sun tested my body and also seized my rear brake, but it was good training in preparation for the upcoming SA Cup in Limpopo next month.
“It was so good to be back on my bike and racing and I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for me. U23 here we go,” a confident Damilano concluded.
Du Toit took the honours in the U23 race, covering the six 4.6km laps in a time of 1:19:41 which was the third quickest overall time of the day.
Damilano finished second in 1:28:07, two seconds ahead of third-place finisher Frederick Smit.
The second leg of the Gauteng XCO Cup will take place on March 20 at Grootfontein Bike Park.
Elite
| 1 | Philip Buys | 1:18:44 |
| 2 | Jan Withaar | 1:19:19 |
| 3 | Jacques Janse van Rensburg | 1:20:41 |
| 4 | Shaun-Nick Bester | 1:21:19 |
U23
| 1 | Pieter du Toit | 1:19:41 |
| 2 | Matteo Damilano | 1:28:07 |
| 3 | Frederick Smit | 1:28:09 |
| 4 | Frederick Booysen | 1:31:35 |
| 5 | Erick Heyns | 1:38:09 |
Junior
| 1 | Kyle du Toit | 54:44 |
| 2 | Johan de Villiers | 55:30 |
| 3 | Nathan Naude | 56:14 |
| 4 | Phillip Naude | 57:16 |
| 5 | Kyle Tolmay | 58:42 |
Youth
| 1 | Ernest Roets | 40:28 |
| 2 | Massimiliano Ambrosi | 43:28 |
| 3 | Nika Duffin | 44:46 |
| 4 | William Mills | 45:50 |
| 5 | JP de Jager | 45:53 |
