Fouche crashes in Macsteel Cycle Race
World Cycling Africa’s (WCC Africa) Eritrean cyclist, Metkel Eyob, held off stiff challenge from three Bonitas Pro Cycling team riders to win the 2014 Carnival City Macsteel Classic Cycle Race on Sunday, February 23.
The WCC Africa team is a feeder team for the MTN Qhubeka team.
The 160km race is one of the longest cycle races of the season and prepares cyclists for the Argus, which traditionally takes place two weeks after the Classic.
Eyob finished just 20 seconds ahead of the chasing pack, after going ahead during the main break of the day.
The race began with a slow pace with all the teams making a cautious start, up until the curves that bend around Nigel and Heidelberg.
It was Ryan Gibbons, from EuropcarSA, who took the lead at the 64km mark, setting the stage for the chasing cyclists to attack and resulting in a pack of 10 riders breaking clear.
Bonitas Pro Cycling’s HB Kruger won the Hotspot at 139km, and was closely followed by five riders.
Into the final kilometre, it was Metkel who beat Bonitas’ sprinter Clint Hendricks to claim the win.
The 2014 Dis-Chem champion, Herman Fouche from Boksburg was involved in a crash with 10km to go, with the Bonitas cyclist sustaining a torn-out finger nail.
The accident also left Fouche’s bike worn-out.
“It’s never nice to get off the bike, especially in that kind of speed,” said the 26-year-old.
“Three of my teammates were in the leading pack before the accident occurred, which put the pressure (of winning) off me.
“Fortunately, it’s just my fingers that got injured and not my legs, and I’m back on the bike training to defend my Argus (Cape Argus) title.”
The Cape Argus will take place on Sunday, March 9.
