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|  | | Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge |
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| 2009/11/17 - The Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge brought JoBurg to a halt on Sunday Morning as thousands of cyclists took to the streets! The 25000 riders were spearheaded by the first finishers of the elite race, Arran Brown of Team Medscheme won a tight sprint from Malcolm Lange (Team Medscheme), Christoff van Heerden (MTN Energade) and a late charging Nolan Hoffman (Neotel) in 4th.
The main race, was off at a start time of 5h30, and headed up the closed highways and into Johannesburg city. It was on this upward stretch that the break of the day formed containing Jacques Janse van Rensburg (DCM Chrome), Travis Allen (House of Paint), Hanco Kachelhoffer (Team Medscheme), Bradley Potgieter (MTN) and David Maree (Neotel). There was a big lull in the bunch after their departure, allowing their lead to grow quickly. The top teams that had missed out on this escape looked at each other for a while before reacting to the chase.
Team Neotel decided to start the chase, even though they had a rider in the front. They were trying to set up a possible victory for their sprinter, Nolan Hoffman, and had David Maree play policeman in the break and not contribute.
Up front, the pace was quick, and at all the hotspots and King of the mountain primes, Kachelhoffer was out-riding his break away companions by winning these! The leaders built up a gap of up to 2min40 and then the chase started in ernest. Konica Minolta and Toyota Supercycling came to the fore, and put their backs into the chase along the Krugersdorp Highway section. This did not make too much of an impact in the gap, but once the riders headed into the final 15 kms, and the wind direction changed, then the speed was high, and it looked as if the front riders may stay clear.
Only in sight of the finish did the bunch look as if it may catch the leaders, as Neotel had put in a big effort in the final kilometers, and brought the break to with in 10 secs. David Maree made a great attack in the closing stretch before the finish compound, but his move was contained by Kachelhoffer. In the technical finish or rather in the final 100m the final escapee was caught! Kachlhoffer was passed by the big sprinters as they dashed for the line! MTN had driven the lead out, but in those final 100m, Team Medscheme riders Arran Brown and Malcolm Lange proved too fast and powered their way past to finish first and second! Christoff van Heerden just stayed in third spot as Nolan Hoffman came close to him to take fourth! Nolan overcooked the final corner and lost momentum and his position in the lead out to the line as he had to apply his brakes.
It ended up a great day for Team Medscheme, as they had Hanco Kachelhoffer representing well in the front, and although he was caught, Arran Brown and Malcolm Lange finished it off! Arran Brown has made a little bit of history by taking wins in the three biggest participation races in the country this year! The Cape Argus, the Amashovashova and now the Cycle Challenge! Just to top it off, he increased his lead in the Alpha Pharm series which ends in two weeks time in the Cape. Nolan Hoffman of Neotel is his nearest challenger, and could still de-throne him for the series! | |
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