Jock Cycle Tour: Main takes first stage win with local rider Van der Leek in sixth place overall
Despite high temperatures, strong wind and 2 900 metres of climbing during the second stage of the race, the Bestmed Jock Cycle Tour proved to once again be an exceptional event for cyclists from across the country.
Kent Main executed his strategy to perfection to win the opening stage of the three-day Bestmed Jock Tour in Kaapsehoop on Friday September 15.
The Dimension Data rider, who raced without the support of a full team, set out determined to take advantage of the 27-kilometre individual time trial that climbed all the way from Mbombela.
Main, who was aiming to finish in around 55 minutes, crossed the line in a provisional time of 54:57 minutes to record a relatively comfortable victory over RoadCover’s Brendon Davids, who won the one-day Jock Classic over the same roads earlier this season. Davids’ teammate, Mornay van Heerden, completed the podium in 55:45 minutes.
“I think you can say that’s a pretty well-judged effort,” said Main, who showed that he is developing into one of the country’s top tour riders after winning the five-day Tour of Good Hope by one second in March.
“I’m ecstatic to take the win,” he said, while admitting that he battled through the final five kilometres after having good rhythm early on.
Main said he overtook several riders who left the starting chute ahead of him, but had to dig deep as he entered the final stretch.
“Going into the last five kilometres it really started to hurt, and it got even harder in the last three kilometres.
“When it flattened out a bit in the last one-and-a-half kilometres I just put my head down and grinded through.”
The 21-year-old pro from Linden in Johannesburg wore the yellow jersey for Saturday’s 140-kilometre stage, which featured 2 900 metres of climbing.
Local semi-pro rider of Team Bells Cycling LGE Midas, Dalene van der Leek, who finished in sixth place overall, said each day posed a new challenge.
“Saturday was extremely warm and the heat really took its toll. On Sunday the cool weather made it easier, but I had to battle strong winds to make it to the finish line.”
According to Van der Leek, this year’s Jock sported an exceptionally strong group of women riders, “I don’t think I’m on full form, so it was quite a shock to the system; I’m a mom with three kids so I had to run with the big dogs and they made me work hard for my position.”
Despite two stages featuring long steady climbs, she is happy with her performance and feels that it was a great local event.
Team Garmin’s Yolandi du Toit, who has been focusing on mountain biking in recent years, made a victorious return to the road to finish ahead of Cycle4Cansa winner Carla Oberholzer and Zanri Rossouw.
Du Toit, the former 947 Cycle Challenge champion, stopped the clock on 1:05:57 and credited her mountain-biking experience for her impressive ride.
“In mountain biking, all the races are kind of like an individual time trial. I felt very comfortable with it all because of how similar it was. I just went out and rode like it was a mountain bike stage,” she said.
The 32-year-old from White River said she did not expect the victory, and was pleased with her effort.
“Coming from a road background, it will always have a special place in my heart, so I really enjoyed the race.”
The Bestmed Jock Tour was presented by Rudy Project and finished on Sunday with a 138-kilometre stage.
