Should the 2021 SA National Road Championships go ahead as scheduled, Ryan Gibbons won’t get the chance to defend his title. Photo: @UAETeamEmirates/Fizza
Should the 2021 SA National Road Championships go ahead as scheduled, Ryan Gibbons won’t get the chance to defend his title.
The nationals are currently pencilled in for March 18 to 21 in Swellendam.
Cycling South Africa has confirmed that a call will be made on the event going ahead either 30 days before its scheduled start or after the country has been placed on a lower level of Covid-19 lockdown.
However, should they progress as scheduled, defending men’s road champion Gibbons won’t be on the start line.
Gibbons, who outsprinted Daryl Impey to win last year’s national title at Swadini Forever Resort in Mpumalanga, confirmed to In the Bunch that he won’t be able to make the trip to South Africa due to a calendar clash.
“I’d love to, but it’s the same weekend as Milan-San Remo and in the middle of the classics season,” a disappointed Gibbons said.
“So I won’t be able to defend unfortunately.”
Gibbons added that he would love to compete should the national championships be rescheduled to a suitable date.
The 26-year-old joined WorldTour team UAE Team Emirates in the off-season and recently made his debut at the Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise.
The 112th edition of Milan-San Remo will take place on March 20. Raced over 298km, it’s cycling’s longest professional one-day race and one of the five monuments.
Jumbo-Visma’s Belgium star Wout van Aert is the defending champion.
