SAPS officers race for glory at National Road Cycling Championships
Members of the SAPS traded their uniforms for cycling gear as they competed in the Cradle of Humankind.
The National Road Race Cycling Championships recently took over the Cradle of Humankind, with members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) swapping the chase for suspects for a chase after medals.
From the 7km prologue warm-up to the gruelling 65km race, the riders proved that fitness, focus and a touch of fun make the perfect winning combination.
With 40 participants – including four retired officers and 36 active members – the blue spirit shone through with every turn of the pedal.
According to SAPS provincial spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the South African National Road Race Championship (specifically for SAPS members) is held within the broader South African National Cycling Championship to determine the best cyclist in this category.
The inaugural winner of the road race championship was Malcolm Lange in 1995, who remains the only cyclist to have won the title three times. The women’s record is held by Anriette Schoeman, with seven victories.
The top performers in this year’s event were mainly from the West Rand and Eastern Cape SAPS.
