10-11-2014: Momentum 947 Mountain Bike Challenge winners show age is just a number
It was a day for the youth and the experienced at the Momentum 947 Mountain Bike Challenge, when 18-year old Neil Robinson and 35-year old Sylvia van Tromp took overall victory in the 55km race at the Riversands Commercial Park on Sunday.
Robinson, who is still classified as a junior, managed to avoid a crash in the final stages of the men’s race to sprint to the win on the revamped route at the new home of the Mountain Bike and next Sunday’s Cycle Challenge. Robinson won in a fine time of two hours 14.20 minutes as the others, including Ian Pienaar and William Mokgopo, picked themselves up from the crash and rolled over for the minor placings.
“This is definitely the biggest win of my career thus far,” said Robinson, who is in matric at Trinity House High School in Randpark Ridge. The new course is really tough. I came here with the intention of racing the junior category and won the overall, which is a great surprise. This is the first race I’ve got to ride with the pros."
“I was out of my comfort zone today. A break went away in the beginning of the race. It was essential that you were in it. We had some experienced guys, like Nic White (two-time winner of the Cycle Challenge) in there. You needed to save the pennies for the final sprint. The rain (on Saturday night) helped a lot as there is usually a lot of dust, which can cause problems, but it was firm and a great track to ride on. I thought it was going to be very muddy, but it was just about perfect."
“The crash happened just after the long straight to the final downhill sprint. I knew I had to get into the corner first, so I went around it fast and managed to stay away for the win.”
Robinson is aiming to take a gap year in 2015 to concentrate on his cycling. Van Tromp, who won from the front in the women’s race in 2:36;05, took a two year gap year herself to have a baby.
“Then I had another baby, then a third and then a fourth, so I think I have paid my dues,” smiled Van Tromp, a swimming coach from Vanderbijlpark, who is an off-road triathlete, focussing on Xterra.
“Today was magical. I really enjoyed it. I’m used to the girls riding hard from the gun, so I decided to ride my own race. I went as fast as I could and didn’t worry about anyone else. It went really well. I enjoyed the route so much. They changed it so well from last year. There was a lot of single track, much more than I thought, and it was wonderful to ride on. You couldn’t wish for better.”
Jacques Lloyd won the 30km men’s race in 1:12;36, beating Jayde Davies (1:12;36) and Conrad Barnard (1:12;38). Kristin Louw took the women’s 30km in 1:21;27, followed by Azulde Britz (1:27;32) and Lee-Anne van Rooyen (1:34;14).
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