Cyclist races to the top
Gwyn Pine has qualified for the world finals in Slovenia next year.
Cyclist, Gwyn Pine can be compared to a bottle of wine.
As he ages, the veteran rider only gets better, adding both a provincial sporting trophy and a qualification for a world cycling event to his already impressive resumé.
For Mr Pine, 2013 has come with continued success.
“I have won at provincial and national levels from early in the year,” he said proudly.
Top of his achievements is a gold medal at the time trial event of the Msunduzi UCI World Qualifier in late October.
Despite the challenging routes cyclists were made to traverse, Mr Pine endured to take pole position, putting him securely on track for the road race finals in Slovenia next August.
“It’s any sportsman’s desire to visit a world final,” Mr Pine said wistfully.
Capping off his phenomenal year, he received the KwaZulu-Natal Cyclist of the Year trophy for the second consecutive year, at the KZN Cycling Awards in Durban on November 9.
Mr Pine understands this accolade proves age is but a number.
“If you are willing to work hard and commit, anything is possible,” he said sagely.
The local cyclist’s year concluded last weekend with the Coronation Double Century.
Representing the Bluff Meats team, Mr Pine and fellow cyclists finished fourth overall in the 200-kilometre event, a timing error costing them a podium finish.
“We ended just 30 seconds behind the third-placed team.”
Mr Pine is now looking forward to another successful season in 2014, ahead of the KZN Championships in January (Ladysmith) and the SA Championships in February (Durban).
New rules have made for an altogether different experience for championship cyclists in 2014.
“This will be the first time a championships will feature elite, veterans, juniors and all classes in one race,” he beamed excitedly.
“I am really looking forward to that.”
