Tragedy struck at this year’s Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge on Sunday after a cyclist passed away.
“It is with deep sadness that the organisers of the Momentum 947 Cycle Challenge event announce the death of a cyclist. The cyclist passed away after completing the event.
“The family has requested the details of his passing are not disclosed at this time and as the organisers we respect this request.
We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family. Support has been extended to them during this difficult time,” said Pippa Rowles in a media statement.
Men’s race report:
The 18-year old Stefan de Bod could not stop smiling after he had beaten the first African to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France in the Momentum 947 Cycle Challenge.
De Bod, part of the MTN-Qhubeka feeder team, said he and his teammates had planned the race down to the very last detail after he and teammate Clint Hendricks had taken the top two places ahead of Daryl Impey of team Orica GreenEdge.
Hendricks has gained a reputation as breakaway man on the South African scene for his penchant of riding away from the bunch on endless attacks. He tried his luck today, but the team had several plans.
Impey, who wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de France two years ago, said while he had hoped to win the Cycle Challenge for the first time, he was glad to see that there was such strength in depth in South African cycling.
Shaun-Nick Bester of Bonitas took fourth, while Julius was fifth for MTN-Qhubeka, in what was the last race for both teams in their current form.
The official results for the top three were:
- Stefan de Bod – 2h15m23s
- Clint Hendriks – 2h15m29s
- Darryl Impey – 2h15m32s
Women’s race report:
South African champion Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio overcame a crash and severe mechanical problems to hold off a strong European challenge to win the first women’s UCI 1.1 race at the Momentum 947 Cycle Challenge.
Moolman-Pasio, riding for Team Bigla, beat the Dutch pair of Sabrina Stultiens and Floortjie Mackaij, who were second and third for Team Liv-Plantur respectively, after breaking away a few kilometres before the finish.
She had been in a four-rider break that had built up a small gap over the chasing bunch when she crashed. She thought her race was all over then.
“We were going down a descent into the suburbs in Joburg when I think I hit a hole or something and my hands came off the bars. I crashed heavily. I saw the bike slide for a long time and worried it was damaged and my race was over. I was quite shocked.
One of the motorbike riders came past and asked me if I was going to continue, and the cameraman said ‘of course she is going to continue’.”
Anriette Schoeman, a former winner of the race and the most successful rider in South Africa, gave her encouragement after the crash: “Anriette was incredibly supportive today. She asked me if I was okay and asked if I needed anything. That was special to me and shows the camaraderie in the women’s peloton.”
Moolman-Pasio had animated the racing all day, and after she crashed was set up by teammate and former winner Sharon Laws, the Kenyan-born Brit, on Cedar hill near the end of the race.
Moolman-Pasio said that the first UCI 1.1 ranked race in South Africa was “incredible” for African women’s cycling.
“I want to say thank you to all of those who made it happen, to the organisers, to Cycling South Africa and to Momentum, who have supported me for a long time.
“Great to have the first women’s UCI 1.1 race in South Africa, and I am sure it will be a great fixture for years to come. It gives the sport such an incredible boost in this country and enables African riders to test themselves against top European riders.
It was a tough race this late in the season for the Europeans. They don’t usually race so early, so a 3am wakeup was a bit crazy for them.
“For them to come out here and race so well was great for us. I was impressed to see how the South Africans rode, and the riders from Eithiopia and Eritrea. The sport in this country has a great future with this event.”
The official results for the top three are:
- Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – 2h34m58s
- Sabrina Stultiens – 2h35m04s
- Tsega Gebre – 2h35m05s
