IT has been a superb year so far for Durban North resident S’annara Grove who has triumphed in a number of local race.

In February, the 31-year-old was crowned the national champ at the SA National Road Championships in Midvaal, and in March she finished second at the Cape Town Cycle Tour.

A little over a week ago, she won her second successive Amashova National Classic title in the women’s elite 106km race. Then this past weekend Grove emerged as the winner in the women’s 110km race of the Underberg Gran Fondo gravel cycling race.

Also read: Mount Edgecombe resident completes Amashova on ElliptiGO

Speaking on her Amashova triumph, which ended in a sprint finish, Grove said the goal was to win the 106km race.

“I think there was a half a wheel in it at the end. The other competitors, Lisa Bone (2nd) and Lucy Young (3rd), all recorded the same time as me, 02:48:49. It was one of the closest sprint finishes I’ve ever been a part of. Personally I feel I went too early in the final stretch into a headwind which made it that much closer. The aim was to win but I certainly wasn’t thinking of successive titles.

“I think it’s very hard as an individual to win the Amashova, especially with the talent pool of elite riders. The plan was always to come back in July. The change of date for the Amashova race really suited me as the team I race for in Europe, Oshea Racing, doesn’t have a lot of events during this time. While we escaped the rain for the first time in two years there was a strong north easterly wind that picked up. That affected how aggressive you could be on climbs but I’m glad with how everything worked out in the end,” she said.

While she has done a number of races on the local circuit, Grove also competed in a few races in Belgium, the Netherlands and England.

Also read: Glen Hills runner reflects on incredible Comrades achievement

Grove gave some insight into how races benefit her as an elite cyclist.

“Racing in general improves your race instincts. You can predict when attacks are going to happen and also respond to that quicker. You definitely get a better feel for the race and it forces you to dig deep,” she said.

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