Gustav Basson and Thokozani Mahlangu compete at African Road Cycling Championships
Nelspruit rider Megan Botha finishes fourth in the time trial as South African competitors face stiff continental rivals.
Middelburg has three cyclists who are participating in the CAC African Road Cycling Championships in Kisumu, Kenya.
The championships started yesterday and will continue until October 25. Cyclists from 32 African countries are competing for a continental title.
Magda Nieuwoudt, who did tremendous work for sports at Middelburg High School before moving to Pretoria, is one of the three.
Veteran Thokozani Mahlangu (34) and Gustav Basson (28) are also in Kenya.
Basson finishes eighth in time trial
Basson competed in the individual time trial yesterday, finishing eighth. The time trial was won by Alexander Mayer of Mauritius, with Merhawi Kudus of Eritrea taking second place.
There is perhaps a perception, especially among the older generation, that South Africa will dominate the championships.
However, this is not the case, as other nations such as Mauritius, Rwanda and Eritrea are performing well.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the country did indeed have world-class cyclists, such as Alan van Heerden, Ertjies Bezuidenhout, Robbie McIntosh and Willie Engelbrecht.
Road race squad takes shape
Basson is part of a large group of both young and experienced riders selected to compete in the road race.
They are: Mahlangu, Simon Ferreira, Callum Ormiston, Danival Matthews, Rhys Burrell, Wijan Nieuwoudt, Emile van Niekerk, Ryno Schutte and Joshua Dike.
Nelspruit’s Megan Botha narrowly missed a podium spot in the individual time trial, finishing in fourth place. She is the daughter of Mpumalanga cycling president Danie Botha.
