Local rider’s dedication leads to first elite cycling title

Local rider, Lourens Beeslaar, recently took the win and claimed his first-ever Mpumalanga cycling champion jersey in the elite category.

“As I came over the last hill, listening to the cheering crowds, adrenalin kicked in like never before. I gave my everything and when I realised that I had managed to keep in front the whole way, reality struck and the feeling was unbelievable,” said Beeslaar.

According to him, the race nerves were at an all-time high, but a controlled event through proper planning was the ideal ingredient for a perfect-race recipe. As over 120 riders gathered to tackle the huge climbs between Badplaas and Carolina, Beeslaar made sure he and three others hit the hills for a break away and on 25 kilometres they finally managed to secure a good solid gap of 3:25.

Unfortunately the riders were unable to keep the gap due to a strong wind which took them by surprise and the peloton managed to caught up with the front cyclists. I decided to sit in and recover, and to wait and plan my big move at the end,” he said while explaining with great gratitude how Albert Myburg was fighting hard to sit in the bunch, sacrificing his legs for a good lead out in order for Beeslaar to have a chance to take the possible top 10.

He knew the pressure was on and hitting the last five kilometres things started to heat up. “I could feel the peloton making hard efforts and hitting climbs as it was a joke, riders started to drop off the back due to the enormous pressure,” said Beeslaar. He found himself in a good position and described how he “kept the wheel hanging in for dear life”, waiting for the right time to make his final move.

“As I came over the hill and heard the crowds, I gave my final kick to fly over the finish line first.” With three more stages to finish, the weekend was far from over for this promising rider and hitting the “hardest time-trial race ever”, with an average heart rate of 186bpm, he did not only fight a physical battle, but also a mental one.

“It was the hardest 32 minutes I have ever done, fighting with my head the whole way and struggling through the pain, but being escorted by two motorbikes and the vice-president of Cycling South Africa the pressure was on and I didn’t want to disappoint,” said Beeslaar. He managed to finish fourth.

The following day an exciting part of the championship, the Hill Climb, waited upon the local rider, knowing his skills at climbing. He missed first place with 13 seconds and the second place with only one second. “I knew I gave my best and I was happy with my third place.”

As the championship draw to an end, the contestants prepared for the fourth and final stage, it was clear that Beeslaar was ready to end the competition on a high note. Going into the Criterium Race where riders are expected to cycle as hard as possible for 20 minutes, waiting for the bell to go off to indicate a last lap of official racing, Beeslaar was hungry for another win.

With spectators breaking the pain barrAs the championship draw to an end, the contestants prepared for the fourth and final stage, it was clear that Beeslaar was ready to end the competition on a high note. Going into the Criterium Race where riders are expected to cycle as hard as possible for 20 minutes, waiting for the bell to go off to indicate a last lap of official racing, Beeslaar was hungry for another win.

With spectators breaking the pain barrier and one flying attack after the other, Beeslaar did everything according to plan and once again managed to win the final event of the championship. “I absolutely gave it my all and it is a feeling I will never forget.”