Janse van Rensburg claims SA Road Champs gold

It was a golden day on Saturday for Team MTN-Qhubeka’s Jacques Janse van Rensburg, who dominated the 2015 Pennypinchers South African Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships Elite Men’s Road Race on Saturday February 7 to finish just under two minutes ahead of the chasing bunch in hot conditions in Mbombela.

For Daryl Impey from the South it was a case of being the perennial runner-up, and the recent SA Time Trial Champion was a little disappointed by the tactics taken by the peloton. However, he was still satisfied with his second place finish as he looks towards the international season.

It was a first Elite national championship title for Janse van Rensburg, but with a debut in the Tour de France later in the year, Team MTN-Qhubeka knew the importance of keeping the national jersey among them.

“It is such a great feeling to win the elite title!” said an elated Janse van Rensburg, “After Louis (Meintjes) won it last year, and with our Tour de France entry, we really wanted to keep it in the team and I am glad that we managed to do that.”

Having claimed both the junior and the u.23 national titles, Janse van Rensburg was glad to add the elite title to his cabinet, and felt like he rode a technically and tactically sound race that unfolded like he would have wanted it to.

“Our tactic was to get a guy in the early break and that was me, which meant that I was able to keep up with the group of six at the front.

“By the sixth lap I knew that we were going to be able to keep clear of the group, and with two laps to go I really felt good, and I knew that I had to get away, because I am not the strongest sprinter so I needed a gap.

“I went on my own from there and there wasn’t much of a chase so I was able to just get clear and keep my head down all the way to the finish, which was great and I am really happy with the result,” he beamed.

Runner-up Daryl Impey said: “It was good to get the silver medal today, even though I was a little frustrated by the tactics of some of the bigger teams that were part of the bunch.

“There was very little movement in the group, and I was hoping that there might be a couple guys who were willing to come with me, and no one wanted to put in a chase, which was quite disappointing, but it was a great ride from Jacques, and he deserved it today.”