Sizzling action at cycle classic

THE freedom to cycle was celebrated during the inaugural Freedom Day Classic, which is part of the KZN Autumn Series.

Team Abantu’s Reynard Butler claimed the men’s victory in a time of 4:02:56.381 and CSA Women’s Development team rider Cherise Stander secured the women’s title in a time of 3:23:19.131.

The recently launched KZN Autumn Series provided top cyclists the chance to battle it out for UCI points in three road race events, the first being the Freedom Day Classic.

Both riders overcame crashes early in the race due to the wet surface to claim their respective titles – Butler crashed when he joined the break and Stander slid out on the wet road shortly after the start, quickly regaining lost ground and momentum.

The 157km men’s race covered seven laps of the 22.2km circuit through the streets in the city and along the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg.

The women tackled five laps of the 22.2km route, totaling 113km through the wet streets of Pietermaritzburg.

Stander claimed the title almost three minutes ahead of second placed An-Li Kachelhoffer, with Lise Olivier third a further 1.3 seconds back.