LOCAL cycling star Garth Thomas (Team CSC/Marcello) recently proved to be unbeatable when he won the Western Cape Spring League without competing in the final two league events.
Thomas was part of the national team competing in China’s Tour of Hainin which returned to South Africa on Monday.
“David Garret of Team Pinnacle Point was only a few points behind Thomas when he left for China with only two events remaining,” CSC/Marcello team manager, Chris Willemse senior, explained.
”Luck was on our side when the second last race in Bonnievale was cancelled. However, Garret only needed to finish in the top eight in the last race in order to be the Spring League champion for 2007”.
When Thomas, CSC/Marcello’s team captain, left for China he was convinced he’d missed out on the league title, particularly since only two CSC/Marcello riders were able to compete in last Sunday’s event.
But the two CSC/Marcello riders, Chris Willemse junior and Gilbert Quevauvilliers, were intent on protecting their captain’s leading position and carefully planned a winning strategy.
“We knew that Pinnacle Point riders would close all the gaps from the start of the race and that, in doing so, they would tire themselves out before the cyclists reached Helshoogte,” Willemse snr said.
”And that is exactly what happened. At the start of the steep Helshoogte climb, only Garret remained in contention.”
In the end David Garret’s 15th position in the race was not enough to secure the yellow jersey.
This allowed Thomas to take the top spot in this year’s Spring League which serves as a confidence-booster for the remaining season.
