Gilleys make the spokes sing

The father-and-son team of Rod and Ian Gilley competed in the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge last weekend.

On Sunday 16 November Rod, 68, completed the race in two hours and 40 minutes while Ian, 42, finished in two hours and 37 minutes. The pair commented on the Riversands Commercial Park where the race started and finished.

“It proved to be an excellent choice of location,” said Rod in a press statement, adding that the location has been secured for the race for the next 15 years.

“The revised course, whilst still measuring the customary 94.7 kilometres, was far more challenging than previous years,” Rod said.

“Some 5,5 kilometres of serious climbs were to be tackled in the final eight kilometres.”

The Gilleys said they considered the weather conditions to be perfect for racing and the way in which the event was organised impressed them. As many as 32 000 cyclists partook in the race this year.

Ian, who completed the race for the eighth time, once again was seeded in the Top A category. He started the race at 6.20am and rode with a large group of riders until just past the half-way mark. Then he as part of another group hunted down 20 riders who broke away earlier and they overtook them. In the last eight kilometres Ian proved why he was an A-category competitor, finishing in fourth place in the 40+ age group.

For the fourth year running Rod was placed first in his starting group, which this year had 402 finishers. His winning time of two hours and 40 minutes was a full 10 minutes quicker than the cyclist in second place. He also was first among the 214 finishers in his 65-69 age group and 10 minutes quicker than the cyclist in second place. His finishing time was faster than any of the competitors in the 59 to 64 age group, which means that some of the riders he had beaten were almost ten years younger that he.

As with the previous two years’ results, Rod’s recorded race time automatically qualifies him to be seeded to start the race next year in the A category if he so wishes.

“I do not consider one’s age to be a reason to slow down and become sedate,” Rod said to the record.