Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Keanan Hemmonsbey
Published on 2024-03-11 11:54:20
South Africa’s Kent Main and Tiffany Keep emerged as the champions of the 46th edition of the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday. Main, the men’s elite winner, broke away in the final five kilometers of the 109km race and crossed the finish line in Green Point with a time of 2:31:21, just 14 seconds ahead of second-placed Charlie Aldridge.
Alex Miller, the Namibian Road Race Champion who was part of the leading pack, explained the dynamics of the race, saying, “Kent [Main] got a bit of a gap and I was expecting Charlie [Aldridge] to chase him down for Alan [Hatherly]. But nobody made the effort initially and suddenly he has a good advantage over us.” The podium was completed by Alan Hatherly in third place.
Main expressed his excitement and satisfaction after his victory, saying, “It’s amazing. It was an amazing race. It was super hard right from the beginning, but I think how tough it was actually worked in our favor. It’s amazing to have won it!”
In the women’s race, Tiffany Keep claimed victory in a close sprint finish against S’annara Grove, winning by a tyre’s width with a time of 2:12:01 for the 78km ride. Keep recounted the intense finish, saying, “It was super, super close. S’annara [Grove] jumped me with about 100 meters to go and I had to work quite hard to get back to her wheel. So, yeah, I’m really, very, happy with that.” Vera Looser from Namibia finished in third place.
The Cape Town Cycle Tour saw nearly 30,000 cyclists take to the roads of Cape Town, marking the first time since 2020 that the event had such a large number of participants. The event reaffirmed its status as the world’s largest festival on two wheels, with perfect weather conditions and the support of the Mother City.
David Bellairs, the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Director, expressed satisfaction with the event, highlighting the favorable weather conditions and the incredible support from fans along the route and at the finish line. The event confirmed that there were no fatalities reported on the route.
Bellairs commended all the finishers, acknowledging the importance of their participation and the support of the city in promoting safe cycling routes. He expressed hope to see all participants, whether seasoned riders or novices, back for the next edition of the race.
The Cape Town Cycle Tour has played a significant role in promoting cycling in the city, which has become increasingly bike-friendly in recent years. The event, which began in 1978 to raise awareness of the need for safe cycling routes, continues to attract cyclists of all levels and backgrounds.
Overall, the 46th Cape Town Cycle Tour was a successful and exhilarating event, showcasing the spirit of competition, camaraderie, and community support that defines the world of cycling.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
