South Africa’s para-cycling heroes kicked off day four of the SA Road Championships in Wellington on Friday.
London Paralympian Pieter ‘Supapiet’ du Preez once again swept up his second National gold medal for the championship in the H1 category. ‘It went well,’ he said. ‘I’m glad they changed the start time to a little bit earlier so we had incredible weather,’ he added.
Du Preez mentioned that the course was a tough one, but fun and enjoyable, and that he had a good time out there. ‘I was also happy with how good my form is because I have been training really hard, and I really peaked entirely for this,’ he added.
Du Preez (pictured right) mentioned that the 2016 and 2017 events were worlds apart. ‘This year is much hotter, but also, the time trial actually dropped 100 metres in altitude from start to finish last year. So even though there were a few hills, it was a very fast Time Trial.
’On this course, your altitude gain was 170 metres, so it’s a tough course. You have to work the whole time as well. The downhills are not that steep, so you can never relax. You have to work hard to get down, and then again to get up.’
He thanked Cycling South Africa, and all of the locals and volunteers. ‘Thank you to everyone for making it such an amazing race,’ he added.
‘Thanks also to guys like Johnny Koen, who take the silent moments and really fill them up for us,’ he laughed.
He also mentioned that he is looking forward to the year, and cannot wait to have a World Championships in August on home soil. Du Preez and his wife Illse are also anticipating one of the most special moments of 2017 – the birth of their first child in the not too distance future.
The Women’s T1 Road Race Championship gold medal was claimed by Toni Mould (pictured here) – who once again stole the hearts of those around her with her constant cheers of enthusiasm for her fellow cyclists.
Goldy Fuchs did the double as he grabbed the Men’s T2 Road Race gold medal after winning the Time Trial in his category on Tuesday.
Juan Odendaal did his National Jersey proud on the Men’s C3 Podium after winning the Road Race in his category, and Phillo Verlaat claimed the first podium spot in the Men’s C2 event.
‘Today was very good, but the heat, wow,’ said Verlaat. ‘For the first three laps I tried to make it interesting, but on the fourth, my legs just gave up,’ he added.
Verlaat said that overall he was happy with his race, despite the heat, and was looking forward to working towards the World Championships in Pietermaritzburg later this year.
Gysie van der Niet smashed his Men’s H4 Road Race in a time of one hour, 27 minutes and 40.029 seconds. Finishing behind Van der Niet was Patrick Rasedimo in second place and the bronze medal went to Barend Coetzee.
Palesa Manaleng looked a golden winner after the Women’s H3 Road Race. ‘It went okay. I didn’t get to do the Time Trial, so I didn’t get to do the route until today,’ she said. The first level she thought was okay, until she hit the first uphill. ‘By the time I got to the top I was thinking ‘that’s it, that’s me, I’m done’,’ she added.
Manaleng said that it was an interesting route. ‘I enjoyed it. I think if I could do it again I’d do it again – if we start at 5am maybe. I think I almost melted on the road,’ she said.
Championship commentator Johnny Koen managed to round up the crowds in the morning to sing a very well-deserved Happy Birthday to newly appointed Cycling South Africa’s Para-cycling Commission Director, Estelle van der Merwe. Van der Merwe, a retired cyclist and C5 para-cyclist herself, could not have been prouder of what the team accomplished out there on the day.
All pictures courtesy of DoubleST
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
ROAD RACES
Men’s H1
1. Pieter du Preez 1:27:29.853
Men’s H4
1. Gysie van der Niet 1:27:40.029
2. Patrick Rasedimo (featured in main picture) 2:08:43.737
3. Barend Coetzee 2:23:23.753
Women’s H3
1. Palesa Manaleng 2:00:56.475
Men’s T2
1. Goldy Fuchs 00:52:19.863
Women’s T1
1. Toni Mould 00:57:29.611
Men’s C2
1. Phillo Verlaat 1:49:22.310
Men’s C3
1. Juan Odendaal 1:43:31.396
2.Johan Voges 02:00:21.207
Men’s C4
1.Attie Botha 2:07:40.212
Men’s C5
1.Gavin Cowden 1:40:40.362