Moolman Pasio thrilled to be part of SA team for Games

“Excited to be selected for @Glasgow2014! Look forward to giving it all with @Heidz21 @LiseOlivier@taylorchick1@Anriettes & @PTAbananaChick,” she said on twitter.

Moolman Pasio was named in South Africa’s cycling team to compete at the international showpiece, which runs from July 23 to August 3 in Scotland.

Representing Momentum Toyota Cycling Team in South Africa and racing for the Lotto Belisol Ladies team in Europe, she would line-up in the women’s road race alongside Cherise Stander, Heidi Dalton, Lise Olivier, Anriette Schoeman and Andri Coetzee.

She secured her passage to the games following a spate of good results on the local and international stage.

In February, she successfully defended her elite national time trial and road race titles at the South African Road Cycling Championships in Durban.

She was crowned African champ while representing South Africa at last year’s African Continental Championships in Egypt after winning the elite women’s road race.

Four Team-Abantu riders were also selected for the squad. Nolan Hoffman, the 2012 World Track Championship silver medallist, Morne van Niekerk, Kellan Gouveris and Oupa Maluleke were chosen for the track events at the games and would be joined by Bernard Esterhuizen, Theuns van der Bank and Evan Carstens.

Mariske Strauss and Phillip Buys would fly the South African flag in the mountain bike events.

A men’s road race team, which might have featured Tour de France stage winner Daryl Impey was not included at the Sascoc team announcement in Johannesburg on Wednesday. It was a decision which took many in the cycling community by surprise, some of whom expressed their reactions on twitter.

“Congrats to all selected to represent SA in Glasgow & feel for those left out! Especially our male cyclists who really stand a great chance,” Moolman Pasio said on twitter.

Team Bonitas sports administrator Kandice Buys tweeted: “No Elite Men’s team for Commonwealth Games, would have been the strongest team we’d have sent in YEARS, @Cycling_SA“.

@Bicycling_SA said: “South Africa’s Commonwealth Games team announced some interesting omissions, including the elite men’s road”.

At the previous quadrennial Games in New Delhi, India, four years ago, South Africa finished fifth overall, securing 12 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze medals for a haul of 33 — the nation’s lowest medal count since the 1994 Games in Victoria, Canada.

South African cycling squad:

Women’s road race: Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, Cherise Stander, Heidi Dalton, Lise Olivier, Anriette Schoeman, Andri Coetzee.

Track: Bernard Esterhuizen, Nolan Hoffman, Evan Carstens, Theuns van der Bank, Kellan Gouveris, Oupa Maluleke, Morne van Niekerk.

Mountain bike (MTB): Mariske Strauss, Phillip Buys.

– Sapa