Big names fight it out in Paarl Memorial Race
2006-06-22
MANY of the big names in South African road cycling were in action during the first Japie Green and Peter Nicholson Memorial Race that took place in Paarl on Saturday.
The race started as the sun barely peeped over the Klein Drakenstein Mountains and the men’s elite riders set off in the
direction of Franschhoek via Wemmershoek.
A small group consisting of Jos le Roux (GT Edu-Loan Maties), Ryan Kemp (Marcello), Alex Heward (Marcello), Anton Wynand (Liberty Life), Mark Wilcox and one of his Powerbar teammates broke away early.
The group managed to build up a lead of two and a half minutes on the way towards Klapmuts.
One hour into the 120km race, on a slight uphill section, Darren Hill (City Cycles) put in a big effort. Only four other riders - Erik Kleinhans, Michael Sowerby (both GT Edu-Loan Maties), Dean Hopf (CVT/CSC) and Paul Minnaar (Rhadsport) - managed to keep up with him.
These riders worked well together on the rolling road towards the Paardeberg loop and 15km later they bridged the gap to the first break-away group.
The enlarged group of 11 stayed together, slowly increasing their lead on the bunch until the 95km mark on the Malmesbury road towards Wellington.
Another effort by Lill split the group once again, with Lill, Sowerby, Kleinhans, Hopf, Kemp and Minnaar breaking away.
During the last 15km every rider in the leading group tried to get away on their own, but it was Sowerby who eventually got the gap, hovering 30 seconds in front of the group for almost 10km.
On the last obstacle, a three kilometre drag, Lill played his final card, closing the gap and passing Sowerby.
Kleinhans managed to join Lill in the front for a brief moment, but the tough drag in the final five kilometres took its toll on his legs, and gave Lill the gap he needed to sprint to the finish.
Kleinhans finished second, followed by Hopf, Sowerby, Minnaar, Kemp, Martin Malan and Jos le Roux.
Juniors: 1. Rčniell Matthysen (Marcello), 2. Marius Bester (Kroff Cycles), 3. Kenneth Ketter (Marcello).
Veterans: 1. J du Plessis (Bellville), 2. Gert van Zyl (Bellville), 3. Nolan de Wee (Rhadsport).
U.16: 1. Evan Carstens (Bellville), 2. Nardu Matthysen, 3. Clint Hendricks (Rhadsport).
Women: 1. Natasha Marang (Rhadsport), 2. Susan Melmoed (UCT Abvest), 3. Lerine Bester (Kroff Cycles).
U.14: 1. Wayne Botha (Tygerberg), 2. Dillon Overmeyer (Bellville), 3. Emile Jacobs (Khayelitsha Millennium).
U.12: 1. Bradwin Daniels (Rhadsport), 2. Chesné van Wyk (Rhadsport), 3. Keeran Aries (Jofa CC).
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