Race Report: Engen Dynamic Cycle Challenge (EDCC), Wellington - 10 October 2009.

Report by Sipho Mona, Team Manager: Team GT/Velokhaya/PPA.

The third and last EDCC road cycling event for 2009, held in the Western Cape - the home ground of the GT/Velokhaya/PPA team - promised to be a cracker of a race. A strong field included all the super league teams and the Medscheme team from Johannesburg, who vied for honours in the 99km 'long race'.

As expected, Team Medscheme tried controlling the race from the outset, but the GT/Velokhaya/PPA team had other plans. Our riders launched attacks from the start in an attempt to shake off the bunch and after several, relentless, four riders broke away. One of our riders was in the breakaway and 37 kilometres into the race another one joined the break.

The climb up Riebeeck Kasteel saw more riders drop away, unable to maintain the pace. As the leading riders reached the summit of the climb, the racing was underway with three of the Team Medscheme and the two Velokhaya cyclists - Luthando Kaka and Songezo Jim - competing against solo riders from Daikin and Club MTN.

With 30km to go and with a time gap of 2min 33 seconds, it was clear the race would be contested between Team Medscheme's Neil Macdonald, Arran Brown and Malcolm Lange, and Luthando Kaka and Songezo Jim of Team Velokhaya/GT/PPA.

With 20km to go, both teams started shaking things up. The Velokhaya riders were outnumbered by Team Medscheme and a disappointed Luthando Kaka - riding in his first main race following his return from the European season - had to be satisfied with fifth place.

But the race was not over for the GT/Velokhaya/PPA team; the u/23 riders still had to cross the line and this time the victor was ours as Siyabonga Mnqwazi beat the others in the bunch sprint, crossing the line in first place in the u/23 category and rounding off a highly successful day for Team Velokhaya/GT/PPA.

Note: The Life Cycling Academy's younger riders were not to be outdone on the day. Competing in the 46km short route, the Pick n Pay-sponsored cyclists dominated the field and filled the podium during the prize-giving ceremony. The results were as follows:
Under 12 Boys: Abulele Xuz (first) and Bantu Maquba (third)
Under 16 Girls: First, second and third places to Zanele Tshoko, Sinazo Matoleni and Sinazo Sityatha
Under 14 Boys: First place to Nicholas Dlamini
Under 16 Boys: First, second and third places to Emile Jacobs, Nkosinathi Nohesi and Siyabonga Somchiza

Click here for final prize giving results.