Eyob earns first Berge en Dale win
Eager to test their form ahead of the national and continental road championships in the next two weeks, MTN-Qhubeka took control of the racing early on.
Reigning Carnival City Classic winner Metkel Eyob was happy to take his first Action Ford Berge en Dale Classic title this past Saturday in Muldersdrift.
The 21-year-old from the MTN-Qhubeka feeder team made short work of the undulating 102km route to win the West Rand’s biggest cycle race in a time of 2:25:16.
He was followed across the finish line at Cradlestone Mall by teammate Stefan de Bod, last year’s junior national road champion in 2:25:22 with EuropcarSA’s Willie Smit, newest Serengeti Classic Road race winner, who came in a second later.
Eager to test their form ahead of the national and continental road championships in the next two weeks, MTN-Qhubeka took control of the racing early on.
According to team manager JP van Zyl, the hard work started on the next R28 road towards Robert Broom Drive.
“That made a selection of around 35 riders and then we just kept up the pace and controlled the front from then on.”
With 40km to go, JP said his riders went on the speed up again, playing out their tactics according to plan.
“We waited for the last 20 kilometres to attempt our getaway. Two riders from our team and two from EuropcarSA went up the road.”
On the final Valverde climb, Metkel and EuropcarSA’s Bradley Potgieter broke away, with Bradley claiming the king of the mountains hotspot.
Sensing his opportunity, Eyob paced up to his nearest rival and successfully dropped him to ride alone into the finish.
In the women’s race, Time Freight’s Lise Olivier also took her chance in the closing kilometres to claim an uncontested victory in 2:46:27.
“A group of about five girls just stayed with the bunch we were riding in and went with all the moves,” said Lise.
“I got away with about two kilometres to go – just turning onto the highway, there’s a little kick and I got lucky I guess.”
The 31-year-old Pretoria resident said she was looking forward to the SA championships.
“I’ve got some decent form, so we’re in for some good racing.”
These are the results of the day:
Men
1. Metkel Eyob 2:25:16
2. Stefan de Bod 2:25:22
3. Willie Smit 2:25:23
4. Kevin Patten 2:25:25
5. Jayde Julius 2:25:27
6. Ryan Gibbons 2:25:28
7. HB Kruger 2:25:32
8. Gustav Basson 2:25:32
9. Neil Robinson 2:25:36
10. Richard Laizer 2:25:40
Women
1. Lise Olivier 2:46:27
2. Carla Oberholzer 2:46:47
3. Kim le Court de Billot 2:50:00
4. Desray Sebregts 2:52:22
5. Charlene du Preez 2:52:28
6. Anli Smith 2:54:00
7. Samantha Kristiansen 2:54:02
8. Suzan Bowman 2:54:05
9. Natasha Botha 2:57:13
10. Ronel van Straaten 3:13:49
