Speedy win for Berge en Dale classic cyclist
The race, attended by more than 4 000 cyclists annually, finished off with Gustav Basson in the lead.
Over the weekend, a blur of cyclists covered Mulderdrift roads and hills as they battled it out at the Rudy Project Berge en Dale cycle classic.
Not only were the cyclists preparing for the famous race, but the first leg of the National Criterium Series was also held in conjunction with the classic.
Cycle team RoadCover’s young all-rounder Gustav Basson won the 106 kilometre race with a solo effort on Saturday morning 6 February.
“The former under 19 national time-trial champion showed his skills against the clock when he escaped late in the race from a five-man breakaway group which included teammates Clint Hendricks and Kent Main,” Coetzee Gouws from Fullstop Communications said.
Gustav then took a comfortable win at Cradlestone Mall. He crossed the line in 2:34:59 with Hendricks in 2:35:09 and Bradley Potgieter in 2:35:10.
Gustav said everyone was already on the limit on the first climb out of Krugersdorp and then Kent attacked towards the top.
“Clint went with him straight away and then I decided to ride over as well,” he said about the route to his success cycle.
Gustav, who divides his time between Pretoria and Middelburg, said he was “pretty stoked” with his first elite victory.
“It is a great result for the team and everyone involved,” he said.
It was the 19-year-old’s first elite victory and he will take a lot of confidence into next week’s national road championships, where he is aiming for podiums in the under 23 time-trial and road race.
The women’s race was won by Team Time Freight’s Kim le Court (3:03:11) with Clover’s Carla Oberholzer (3:03:12) and Time Freight’s Lise Olivier (3:03:13) completing the podium.
Clint turned a good day into a great one when he won the first leg of the inaugural ProTouch National Criterium Series at Silverstar Casino directly after the road race. The women’s event was won by Madelaine Snoer.
Even though Berge en Dale is an important race for the country’s top cycling professionals, the race also accommodate social riders with the shorter 55 kilometre route.
To view more photos of the race, click here.
More Berge en Dale news:
Safer Berge en Dale Classic route approved
New title sponsor and bolstered venue for Berge en Dale
Eyob earns first Berge en Dale win
Berge en Dale acid test for SA road champs
