Lowvelder Megan Botha (17) finished 10th in the junior female road race at the Confederation of African Cycling’s Road Cycling African Championships in Eldoret, Kenya, on Friday, October 11.
The championships were held from Wednesday, October 9 to Sunday 13.
The 66km race had a group sprint finish of 12 riders who were all credited with the same time, 02:03:08, but it was Nardos Tsegay from Eritrea who crossed the finish line first. South African Silke Bester took fifth place and Megan was credited with 10th.
“There were a lot of attacks from the other riders trying to break away and break the bunch up. Luckily I could react to every attack and stay with the bunch. I really enjoyed the race and felt strong,” said Megan.
“On the last 5km there were a lot of attacks. I decided it’s now or never and I went out ahead with an attack. I got away from the bunch and held the lead for about 2km. Then in the last 500m I was caught up. I was in the back in the bunch hoping my legs would recover for the final sprint as I had just made a full-out effort. I finished with the bunch, which gave me 10th place. Not the result I was hoping for. But at least I can walk away and say I gave my everything and tried my best.”
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga Rhinos finish CSA T20 Knockout season on a high
Megan raced to fourth place in the 11km time trial on October 9. She clocked a time of 17:10:492, missing out on the bronze medal, won by Kahsay Tsinge Kiros from Ethiopia by just 1.844sec.
“It was an honour to represent my country at such a high level event where it is the best of best from the whole of Africa. Although I didn’t get the results I wanted, I at least know now I’m there with the top girls in Africa and I am still a first-year junior and looking forward to next year.”
Callum Ormiston (22), a former Mbombela resident who is now based in Reading, England, competed in the elite men’s road race, over 175km, on Sunday. He finished in 33rd position in 03:48:26
Emile van Niekerk (22), who lives in Alberton but competes in so many Lowveld mountain bike and road races that he is considered a member of the Lowveld cycling fraternity, won the men’s U23 road race gold medal at the championships on Sunday. He clocked a time of 03:46:23. He was also second overall in the elite race, with Henok Mulueberhan from Eritrea finishing two seconds ahead of him.
Well-known Lowveld biokineticist Nicole Shuttleworth was the team soigneur, the same position she held in the South African cycling team at the Paris Olympic Games.
