Words & Photos: Warren Elsom
The final criterium of the Lights by Linea Hero Challenge took place on Saturday, 2 March 2014 at Century City, Cape Town. With most of the lowveld Elite and professional riders down for the Tour de Boland and Argus Cycle Tour, it did not take much convincing for the athletes to join the final criterium of the series. What the riders did not anticipate was the 'Cape Doctor' rearing its ugly head and dumping a considerable amount of rain on the course.
Photo credit: Warren Elsom
As the riders waited for the countdown to the start of the race, the rain got heavier and the wind got stronger. The start was given and the Elite and pro riders set off into a 38 km/h headwind. There was drama from the start, with a mass of riders going into the third bend and splitting the peloton in two groups. Most of the MTN Qhubeka, ASG and Bonitas Pro Cycling teams were lucky enough to be in the lead group, including overall series leader Stefan Ihlenvfeldt, his teammate Chris Wolhuter, and Carl Pasio, the husband of South Africa Women’s rider Ashleigh Moolman Pasio.
The racing was tight and with 30 minutes remaining, Ryan Felgate made his move in the wet conditions and began to open up a lead on the chasing bunch. The pressure would claim another victim when Pasio, and then Jennings, went down on the slippery surface and saw Pasio walking away with a road rash and his bicycle in two pieces.
With all the carnage happening behind him, Felgate kept on extending his lead by every lap and despite Bonitas Pro Cycling and MTN Qhubeka trying to close the gap, it was all in vain. Felgate, from Team ASG, cleared the last roundabout and raised his arms in victory, while the bunch behind sprinted to the finish line to claim the remaining placings.
Overall results
1. Ryan Felgate (ASG)
2. Clint Hendricks (Bonitas Pro Cycling)
3. Morne van Niekerk (Panda Sportswear Academy)
4. Jayde Julius (Bonitas Pro Cycling)
5. Methel Eyob (WCCA)
More information
For more information, visit Lights by Linear Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Lights-by-Linea/108152339298668 and for the full race results, visit www.about2time.com
