Athletes excel at Ride for Sight race
Dischem executive director Stan Goetsch said they were proud of their long-standing sponsorship of the event.
There were contrasting finishes when Christiaan Klopper won his first Ride for Sight men’s race, and Lisa Bone successfully defended her title in a dominant performance at the Boksburg Stadium on February 16.
In its 36th edition, the event saw a field of 3 500 riders, the most since the Covid-19 pandemic, compete in the 116km classic and the DS24 62km race, with 49 physically-disabled and visually-impaired riders also competing.
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Men’s race
Last year’s bronze medallist Klopper timed his attack to perfection at the last corner into the home straight, fending off his Tshenolo Pro Cycling teammate and captain Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg to take the first wheel with an incredible sprint in the last 100m in 02:35:27.
With inches from the finish, he gave the peloton one last look before beating his chest and thrusting his arms in the air as he savoured his victory.
“I was supposed to lead out our captain Reinhardt. I guess I went a bit too fast at the corner, and nobody followed me. When I looked back, I saw a gap and kept going,” said Klopper.
“I finished third last year. For our new team, Tshenolo Pro Cycling, it’s a great victory because we’ve had some bad luck in the previous couple of races. Thanks to the team and the sponsors.”
Janse van Rensburg, who has competed in the Tour de France and La Vuelta a Espana in Europe, crossed the line in 02:35:29 for the second wheel, while 17-year-old rising star Gustav Roller, who rides for the Belgian team Crabbè-Dstny, completed the top three in 02:35:30.
While their team strategy was to get either himself or Janse van Rensburg across the line first, Klopper was chuffed with the top podium positions going to his team, saying it’s exactly what they planned to do.
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“The strategy was to get many of our guys up the road in all the breakaways just to control it and bring it back for me and Reinhardt. That’s exactly what they did, and we couldn’t have asked for a better execution of the plan,” added Klopper.
Women’s race
Cycle Nation’s Bone won last year’s race with an incredible sprint down the home straight, but this time, she sailed through the finish line by herself to take the first wheel in a dominant 03:08:36.
Bone thanked her teammates for their hard grind on the 116km course to keep the competition at bay.
“My team worked hard. Everyone in the bunch worked hard. We couldn’t get rid of them until about 25km to go.
“My team attacked until they were fatigued, and then I was able to get away,” she said.
She was followed in second place by Lucy Young, the winner of the SA individual time trial women’s title at the nationals in Midvaal on February 6. She crossed the line in 03:11:25, while Bone’s teammate, Taneal Otto, fifth in the women’s road race at the nationals, clocked 03:11:24 for third place.
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Dischem executive director Stan Goetsch said they were proud of their long-standing sponsorship of the event.
“We have sponsored the race for the past 16 years. Even before that, we were involved.
“It’s been going on for 36 years, and people like Claudette Medefindt have been fantastic in what they’ve done over the years. We are proud to be here. If we can save one person’s sight every year, it’s fantastic,” he said.
The event has raised over R15m to help Retina SA fund research that finds a cure for blindness.
