Words & Photo: Cycle Tour Media Office
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Nicholas Dlamini riding for UBS/EJAF has won the coveted 36ONE yellow jersey at this year’s Cape Rouleur. Karl Platt of Team Bulls won the Pro Category jersey. The ladies jersey went to Jo Merritt, with the climbers jersey to Josh Hodge and Bradwin Daniels the talented development rider from Cape Town Giants winning the sprinters jersey. The best team award went to Team Oryx with the very talented development rider team from Cape Town Giants coming a very close second.
18 year old Dlamini, in his role as the first ambassador for EJAF delivered a stunning performance over the 4 days, riding in some testing conditions and with stiff competition. There were only 95 finishers out of 150 + registered starters with the epic 208km 3rd stage taking its toll together with a stomach bug doing the rounds in the region.
Dlamini said “The 12 months since winning the sprinters jersey on last year’s Cape Rouleur have been a whirlwind. I dreamt of many things, trained and worked hard, but even my dreams have been exceeded. It has been an honour to ride and win in my new role as Elton John Aids Ambassador”.
Karl Platt, said, “Once again I had a great time riding the Cape Rouleur. My highlight was taking the Franschhoek Pass Strava segment by almost 1.5 minutes in the Climbers Jersey Competition. Nicholas did an amazing 2 km lead out that helped me take the record.”
Matt Prior, England Cricket Vice Captain commented "This is the first event I've done like this. I am keen to look at the calendar and see when I am available for the next one. The organisation has been fantastic and we have been looked after brilliantly. Everyone has been so friendly and I've made some genuinely good friends this week"
Well known cycling industry business man Humphrey Cobbold from London, "I have ridden bike rides all over the world and there is no question in mind that this is one of the very best if not the greatest."
The winners jersey handover was done at a braai (BBQ) hosted by National Braai Day founder Jan Braai and the Mayor of Stellenbosch, Conrad Sidego at the race village after the final stage.
The riders finished yesterday with the 112km Festival Ride from Franschhoek to the Cape Town waterfront and will rest for a couple of days before testing the legs again at the Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cycle Tour.
TV coverage for the event will be on Eurosport and Supersport in SA.
Stage 3 Results:
Points for the Climbers jersey - Helshoogte Climb
1st Nicholas Dlamini (5 points)
2nd Geddan Ruddock, (4 points)
33d Josh Hodge, (3 points)
The Stage 3 Sprint results
1st Bradwin Daniels (10 points)
2nd Geddan Ruddock (8 points)
3rd Nicholas Dlamini (6 points)
The Stage 3 Yellow GC Stage Results
1st Karl Platt (pro) Team Bulls
2nd Nicholas Dlamini (amateur) UBS/EJAF
3rd Nabigh Davids (amateur) Cape Town Giants
The Stage 3 Ladies Pink GC Stage Results
1st Jo Merritt
2nd Joanne McLeod (Lumo Hawk 1)
3rd Mandy Hibberd
The final overall standings and 36ONE jersey winners are:
Karl Platt, (Team Bulls) - 36ONE yellow jersey (Pro Category)
Nicholas Dlamini, (UBS/EJAF) - 36ONE yellow jersey (Amateur Category)
Jo Merrit, - 36ONE pink jersey
Bradwin Daniels (Cape Town Giants) - 36ONE green jersey
Josh Hodge - 36ONE red jersey
The top teams are:
1st Oryx Stainless Steel 1
2nd Cape Town Giants
3rd Lumo Hawk 1
