LISTEN/READ: Local triathlete Casper Moodie and riding partner win tandem Cape Town Cycle Tour race
It was a tandem triumph for East Rand locals.
During his matric prelims, Casper Moodie weighed over 104kg.
Now, the 31-year-old Lakefield resident is 36kg lighter and making his name known in the multisport code of triathlon.
On March 10, the local triathlete decided to partner up on a tandem bicycle with Kempton Park resident George de Gouveia and tackle the Cape Town Cycle Tour (formerly known as the Argus), the biggest timed cycle race in the world.
The East Randers did what East Randers do best and won the elite tandem cycle race in the Mother City following a sprint finish.
“George and I have raced a few tandem races before and in the last year he asked me to do the Argus with him,” said Moodie.
“It didn’t interfere with my triathlon calendar so I said: ‘Ja, I’m in’.
“We expected to do well in Cape Town and we really were ready for it.
“We did the Berge en Dale two weeks prior and won that.
“I knew that it was going to be a good day out and we pulled it off in the end.”
Moodie said that the conditions on that Sunday were quite hectic on the 109km route.
“The Cape wind made it tricky,” he said.
“Also, at the race, you have the best of the best tandem riders in the country taking part and we were about 35 tandems strong in the elite category.”
Moodie added that with about 10km to go the race was extremely close as five bikes were still in contention for the win.
“With about 2km to go we were one of three bikes in with a chance and then it was a sprint finish to the end.
“George is a skilful sprinter so we were 99 per cent sure we would win it if it came down to the sprint and it did.
“George does all the piloting at the front and I am the ‘horse-power’ at the back.
“I use the tandem racing purely as training for my triathlon racing.”
Moodie competed at the Durban Ultra Triathlon (a 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run) the week before Cape Town and placed second in his category (men’s 30 to 34 years old) and eighth overall in KwaZulu-Natal.
“It was a really good start to the season for me and it was also a ‘PB’ (personal best) down in Durban which I did not expect,” he added.
He is now in training for the Ironman 70.3 in Barcelona, Spain in May, Ironman 70.3 Durban in June and the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship in Vietnam in July.
“There are three big races coming up and then I’m getting married in October,” said Moodie.
“I have to fit in all the pleasure now before the hard work starts in October,” he joked.
Asked if he has advice for people who would like to take up triathlons, Moodie said: “Just take the first step.
“It takes 21 days for something to become a habit and then it becomes a lifestyle.”
The triathlete thanked his sponsors and family for their support.
LISTEN to the Caxton Radio interview with Casper Moodie here:
https://soundcloud.com/benoni-city-times/caxton-radios-logie-g-chats-to-triathlete-and-cape-town-cycle-tour-tandem-winner-casper-moodie
PREVIOUS READ:
Locals swim, cycle and run at 11Global Sun City triathlon
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Boksburg Advertiser, Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter and Kathorus Mail.
