Velokhaya Events hosts the fourth Engen Dynamic Cycle Challenge in Pietermaritzburg - 25 July 2009

The GT Velokhaya Elite team competed in the event and Sipho Mona, team manager, provides this report on the race:

Cape Town, South Africa, August 2009.

The Engen Dynamic Cycle Challenge returned to Pietermaritzburg for the second time, this year hosting an even bigger field of professional riders and teams. The 103km route featured many a rolling hill, the first one encountered as early as the second kilometer, resulting in a break away that was quickly brought back by the chasing bunch.

After several relentless attempts at a break, three riders managed to ride away from the pack, stretching the gap to one minute. When the break threatened to widen, the peloton increased speed in an attempt to chase down the three riders, and in doing so many riders were dropped from the chasing bunch, by then two minutes down on the break.

The peloton rapidly decreased the deficit and time gap to a minute in less than 10km. With 20km to go the chasing bunch had wittled down to no more than 11 riders who were finding it difficult to close the gap as the riders who had teammates in the break didn't want to work and help bring their riders back .

With about 10 kilometres to go, one of the riders from the GT Velokhaya team punctured and our hopes of getting a podium finish were reduced. Songezo Jim used all the strength he could muster to chase back the bunch and rejoin the main peloton.

Sadly, luck was not on his side as he just made it to the foot of the Pollyshorts climb before the remaining riders - now competing for a podium finish - upped the pace. There were attacks from teams Neotel, Medscheme and Toyota Supercycling and despite his best effort, Songezo, who'd given his all to rejoin the peloton, did not have the legs to compete single handedly against the teams and was unable to achieve a podium finish. In the end he still managed a Top 10 position - well done Songezo!.