DESPITE wet and windy conditions, Durban North resident S’annara Grove placed first in the women’s elite race (106km) at the recent Amashova National Classic.

The iconic race retraces the historic ‘Comrades’ route from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.

This was the fourth Amashova National Classic for the 30-year-old whose previous best before this race was a fourth-place finish.

It has been a busy few months for Grove who represented South Africa at the UCI Road World Champs in Zurich, Switzerland, in September.

Also read: Global success for uMhlanga masters swimmer

Grove is now gearing up for the Virgin Active Ride Joburg cycle race.

Speaking on her triumph at the Amashova, Grove said she was aiming for a podium finish.

“The conditions on the day had made it challenging, but it was nothing like the UCI Road World Champs which were cold (5°C) and rainy. Going into the Amashova, my goal was to podium, but I also didn’t have the best legs going into it. The competition was stiff, and it was a bit of hard slog on the road.

“Competing overseas means I don’t have as much time to dedicate to training. I live and work in Belgium and compete on the European circuit. So when it’s winter in South Africa, I’m competing overseas, and when I travel back home, I compete in some of the local races so there’s very little off-season for me. Combining the European racing season with the South African racing season means I have very long stretches of time where I’m racing. Having said that, I do feel competing internationally has improved my racing.

Also read: Northwood School learner relishes role with Dolphins

Speaking on her race at the UCI Road World Champs, Grove said, “I didn’t do too well, but the level of racing at the champs was extremely high. It definitely opened me up to new challenges where I learned skills of racing in groups. It is also a measuring stick of where you are and what you need to work on for that style of racing,” she said.

A Danville Park Girls’ Old Girl, Grove, has been cycling competitively for the past nine years and has also spent two years competing at local triathlons.

Grove said the support from her loved ones has helped her on her journey.

“My parents have been so supportive throughout my career. Especially when I’ve competed overseas and at every local race I compete in. My boyfriend, who is a bicycle mechanic, has also been a pillar of strength, especially when I feel homesick,” she said.

Outside of cycling, she is a motion graphic designer ,and she partly manages a bicycle store in Durban North.

For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook, X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here