Race Report - Western Province Championships

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

Sunday, May 15, 2010

Even though the 2010 WP Championships started at a new venue this year, Windmeul Primary School, the riders were doing the same tried and tested route, the Paardeberg circuit. The GT Velokhaya PPA team was confident of a good performance in the Champs and determined to reclaim the title that former rider, Luthando Kaka (now riding for Team Medscheme) had won in 2008.
The stage was set as the 130 km route got underway. Within the first 20km of the race, Siyabonga Mnqwazi , broke away with five other riders and within no time the gap had grown to a minute after completing the first big lap; by the time they were doing the second lap, the gap had grown to more than three minutes. The team was now in the driving seat as they were represented in the break; the two small laps were going to be the hardest of the race as the bunch would chase the break down with all its might.

The inevitable happened as four riders bridged to the break and Songezo Jim, fresh from Europe, was part of the move which finally made contact with the six riders. The race was now set between the 11 riders in which GT Velokhaya PPA had two representatives. With under 30km to go, Songezo tried to shake things up by splitting the group but only a couple of riders lost contact and this, in turn, saw him go solo with just under 20km to go.
With one last climb to go, the last hope of him losing the pack was on the 700metre steep climb.
He executed his move with precision and only one rider (Moolman Welgemoed from Daikin Gu) could follow him - and the couple made it their prerogative to stay away until the finish line. While the sprinted towards the finish, the bunch closed in on them with David George, David Garrett and Ayabonga Ophila trying to bridge, which they accomplished just at the top of the climb.

Ayabonga now had a relaxed ride as he had a rider up the front and was not going to work to bring the pair back, meanwhile Songezo and Moolman were making their way to the finish with a sense of déjàvu. Two years ago, Moolman and Kaka had been in a similar situation; now it was Songezo battling it out against Moolman.
With under 5km to go, Moolman ceased to work and Songezo was left no choice but to carry him to the finish. Moolman then outsprinted him for the line, thereby taking the Elite championship and Songezo the coveted U/23 title, and second overall. A brilliant and tactical ride from the team!