Cyclist ready for challenge at nationals

Local cyclist Paul Lewis-Enright is fired up to defend his title at the South Africa Criterium, Road and Time Trial National Championships in Oudtshoorn from February 8 to 12.

Fresh from a successful Gauteng Road and Time Trial Championships at the Cradle of Humankind, the 50-year-old hopes his preparations lead to a successful defence of a title he won under extreme conditions in Mpumalanga last year.

“I’m looking forward to the nationals in Oudtshoorn,” he said.

A second place in the time trial and bronze in the road race at the provincial championship gave him a glimpse of the challenges he will face in the Little Karoo town.

“The road race was four laps of the Cradle route. It was extremely hot, but I felt good on the bike. At 35km, I pulled out of the group and it later split up. It ended up being a 15-man gallop. I finished third.”

At the nationals, Lewis-Enright will compete in the men’s 50- to 54-year-old 20km time trial on February 9. Next will be the 102km three-lap road race that will start and end at the Highgate Ostrich Farm two days later.

His preparation has included a lot of studio training, which helps him quickly acclimatise to humid or dry environments, and enough nutritious food to help with hydration.

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“You sweat similarly, but the key is to get your body used to ensuring that your heart beats properly.

“The nutrition will go a long way to ensure I stay hydrated. The most important thing in the preparations is feeding regularly and enough because dehydration will be the biggest risk at the nationals.”

At the last national championships in Graskop, on the instruction of his trainer, Lewis-Enright surprised many when he pulled away from the peloton midway through the race and eventually won the gold medal after that well-calculated yet risky move. He finished third in the time trial.

The Rynfield resident has put himself in a position to succeed with his preparations, but he is under no illusion that it will be a walk in the park.

He knows that challengers like Jeandre van Schalkwyk and Enrich Meintjies have also put in the work, especially as the former finished ahead of him at the provincials in Krugersdorp.

“I would read too much into that,” he said about his chances in Oudtshoorn. “I think there is that pressure from having done so well last year. But I think it will be the best athlete who is the best prepared on the day.”

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