Smit leads SA cycling team to five medals

Despite missing the likes of Louis Meintjes, Daryl Impey and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, the second-string SA squad raked in five medals at the week-long event.

Smit, a former Under-23 time trial champion at the continental showpiece, edged out Eritrean rider Meron Abraham in a bunch sprint to secure the gold medal and clinch his first African senior crown. Ahmed Amine Galdoune of Morocco grabbed third position.

In the elite women’s road race at the weekend, Charlene Roux was the best of the SA riders, snatching bronze in a closely contested event which was also decided in a group sprint. Aurelie Halbwachs of Mauritius won the race, clinching her 11th career medal at the biennial spectacle, while her compatriot Kim le Court, who won the women’s title at the AmaShova road race in Durban last year, earned the silver medal.

Earlier in the week, Stefan de Bod had taken second place in the elite men’s time trial, covering the 43km course 26 seconds off the pace of Eritrean winner Meron Teshome. De Bod also bagged gold in the Under-23 division, and was set to pack two medals in his bag before returning home.

Juanita Venter, a late replacement in the national team for injured rider Samantha Sanders, took bronze in the women’s time trial after arriving in Egypt the day before the race.

Halbwachs secured victory in the 29km solo contest, 20 seconds clear Eritrea’s Mossana Debesay, with Venter covering the distance a further seven seconds off the pace