Team Road Cover’s Gustav Basson won the 106-kilometre Rudy Project Berge en Dale cycling classic with a spectacular solo effort in Krugersdorp this weekend (6 February).
The former U/19 national time-trial champion showed his skills against the clock when he escaped late in the race from a five-man breakaway group which included teammates Clint Hendricks and Kent Main.
Basson crossed the line at Cradlestone Shopping Mall in a time of 2:34:59 with Hendricks second with a time of 2:35:09.
Bradley Potgieter was third across the line in a time of 2:35:10.
Basson said everyone was already on the limit on the first climb out of Krugersdorp and then Main attacked towards the top.
“Clint went with him straight away and then I decided to ride over as well,” he said.
The Road Cover riders were joined by former champion Calvin Beneke and JC Nel to complete the breakaway group.
“We built a two-minute gap and then Kent got away in the cradle after about 75-kilometres. We caught him just before he exited the cradle and I immediately went with a flyer to keep the pressure on the other two. Fortunately they couldn’t catch me and I stayed away,” said Basson.
It was the 19-year-old’s first elite victory and he will take a lot of confidence into next week’s national road championships, where he is aiming for podiums in the U/23 time-trial and road race.
The women’s race was won by Team Time Freight’s Kim Le Court with a time of 3:03:11 followed by Clover’s Carla Oberholzer in a time of 3:03:12.
Lise Olivier of Time Freight’s completed the podium with a time of 3:03:13.
Hendricks turned a good day for RoadCover into a great one when he won the first leg of the inaugural ProTouch National Criterium Series, presented by Liberty, at Silverstar Casino directly after the road race.
The women’s event was won by Madelaine Snoer.
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