Race Report - Pick n Pay Cape Argus Giro del Capo

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

March 9 to March 12, 2010

Stage 1
The 19th edition of the Giro del Capo started in Wellington, with a rather unusual inclement weather for the 106km first stage which had 120 starters. The race status shifted from being a UCI 1.2 category race to a National Tour due to the lack of sponsorships, this did not however deter the other teams locally and especially the Team Kuota Senges (Germany)which is the only team from abroad competing in the race. Team GT Velokhaya had the first say in the breakaway as Siyabonga Mnqwazi initiated the first move solo within the first 10km of the tour, but was brought back by the bunch which showed its intention earlier on, by not letting any move go. The race had a couple of moves and attempts from individuals but the bunch had taken control of every single one of them.
With 40km into the race the inevitable gusty winds near Nuwekloof Pass broke things up just like they do every year in the race and the bunch split into 3 packs with riders even crashing from the wind (gutter). It was then left to some of our riders who were riding the tour for the first time to chase back the leading pack of about 10 riders, with Siyabonga,Wandisile and Songezo in the chasing bunch the gap of the 10 riders grew substantially from 37sec after 50km to a minute 30seconds when they were at the foot of the only climb of the day at 80km.
The chasing pack had now resorted to damage control as they were riding to keep the time gap at its minimal, but after crossing the finish the gap was well over 3minutes,and with prize money for the first 20 riders each stage Songezo narrowly missed it and could only obtain position 23 at the sprint.

Stage 2
The second stage of the tour started in the Northern Suburbs of Durbanville, with overcast weather conditions. It was three laps over Vissershok equal to 143km altogether. Within the first 5km of the race GT Velokhaya's intentions were made known as Songezo initiated the first move of the day which the bunch quickly brought back. They did that efficiently until they reached the peak of Vissershok where a move of about 18 riders with Songezo Jim, saw a gap between them and the bunch and made the most of it. The group then made it towards the finish of the first lap with a lead of no more than 20sec but the lead grew substantially to more than 1min20sec after 70km.
The break was now making up time on the chasing bunch with high momentum until Songezo punctured but got back on the road quickly with the help of his support vehicle. The group then made it over the climb together for the second time and with points available at the start/finish Songezo made his presence felt by taking second position on the line for the points jersey. While the gap was gradually growing his teammates were having an easy ride as they were represented in the breakaway and were allowed to sit back and watch while other teams laboured at the front.
At 90km into the race with one lap to go the gap had grown to more than 2min and the pack was still making inroads, Songezo took the last opportunity to sprint for the points and only managed 5th position this time around. With less than 40km to go the gap had grown to an insurmountable 4min and the pack was heading towards the finish. The pack now was turning attention on itself trying to exploit each riders weakness, when they approached the Vissershok climb for the last time the pack shook things up and casualties were inevitable as Songezo also succumbed to the pressure and could only manage 18th overall with a gap of over 2min on the bunch which puts him in a better position than the day before for the overall GC.

Stage 3
The third and longest stage of the Giro which was 170km started in Paarl. It boasted two major climbs which the bunch inevitably had to negotiate. The race started with a relatively moderate pace which saw riders trying to get away from the bunch before the climb. Within 15km into the race Bonga Nqobane got a puncture and after swiftly getting back to the bunch a group of about six riders had made a break before the climb of Franschoek Pass and by the time the chasing group was on the foot of the climb the gap was already a minute up.
The group started splitting up the climb as the pace was set at the front, Bonga again experienced mechanical problems but was quickly attended to by the mechanic. The bunch had now split into four groups going up the climb and by the time the chasing pack had reached the summit of the climb the gap had grown to two minutes. The bunch then negotiated its way down the meandering descent and by the time they reached Rawsonville the four groups had now become one major bunch which was chasing down a six man breakaway which had a gap of four minutes.
When the pack reached Nekkies the gap had grown to over six minutes. The chase from the main bunch was still not organised until the pack took a left on to the N1 towards the Du Toitskloof Pass. There the bunch put the hammer down in chasing the break, and within 5km of the chase on the ascent towards the climb the group had shaved off 2min from the break. The chase also resulted in a lot of casualties from the chasing bunch as they could not maintain the pace. When the pack reached the foot of the Pass the gap was a mere 50 seconds. The break could feel the bunch breathing down their necks and wasn't long before they were caught by another split of 20 riders which went down to the finish with Songezo Jim coming 13th overall for the sprint.

Stage 4
The last stage of the Giro was a 5.5 km hill climb time trial which was held in Camps Bay and finished at the top of Signal Hill. All our riders managed to avoid the elimination from the Argus Cycle Tour and got within the 25% elimination time. The team's best result came from Songezo Jim's ride of 13min20sec which earned him 12th position on the day overall for the hill climb.
The Giro is now over and the team's next task is the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour on Sunday. I am sure that the team will be fully rested as tomorrow they will be resting and relaxing. Congratulations to all the riders who rode exceptionally well, and thanking the team behind the team (management and mechanic), Msindisi Khedama and Abongile Mazula for making the tour a success for us.