Another successful Challenge

Records were broken in the elite races in this year’s Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge. But mostly, a great time was had by all.
LEGS will be stiff and muscles exhausted as those who took up the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge go about their normal business the day after the taxing 97,4km race.

Executive mayor Parks Tau starts the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge (Photo: Enoch lehung, City of Johannesburg)Executive mayor Parks Tau starts the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)Riding right alongside the physical pain, though, will be a sense of pride for the thousands of people who pushed through the wall and crossed the finish line, whether they had to walk across it or crashed just before the line but got back on to their bikes to cross it.

“Whatever time you did it in, you are all champions,” the commentators encouraged the throngs of riders pouring over the line throughout the morning. “Smile, you have just finished the race,” they said to the tired but triumphant cyclists.

Weather conditions were touted as perfect for the 15th annual challenge, with the commentators saying: “We couldn’t have ordered better weather for today – mostly overcast and slightly sunny.” There was a steady wind to keep riders on their toes, though, and keep the race exhilarating for spectators.

There was plenty of excitement both on and off the road, with Joburgers turning out in their droves to support the riders and a nail-biting sprint to the finish for the men and women’s elite cyclists.

Arran Brown of the MTN Qhubeka team dashed over the line first to break the race record, narrowly beating teammate Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Team Bonitas opponent Tyler Day. He cruised over the finish line in a time of two hours, 11 minutes and 46 seconds.

wins the 2011 Momentum 94.7 Cycle ChallengeArran Brown wins the 2011 Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)It was a close-run thing between MTN Qhubeka and Bonitas, with five Bonitas team members outnumbering three MTN Qhubeka riders. “To our surprise they didn’t try and attack us,” Brown said at a press conference after the race.

“Instead they chose to bank on Tyler’s sprinting abilities. That suited us to the tee, as it meant I could save myself for the sprint,” he said. This strategy worked, and meant that he took his second Cycle Challenge title; he won the race in 2009 and came second last year.

Women’s race
The women’s race held the same levels of intrigue and anticipation. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio from the Nashua-Toyota team was participating for only the second time, but managed to pull ahead in the sprint finish to beat last year’s winner, Cherise Taylor of Team USN. Jo van de Winkel, also from Nashua-Toyota, came in third.

Pasio crossed the line in a time of two hours, 43 minutes and 10 seconds, also breaking the race record. Her win took her by storm, she said at the press conference. “The wind was strong and I really suffered for most of the race, so I am very happy to take the win. It was a bit of a surprise to me.”

For the other 25 000 riders for whom the challenge was not a race but an opportunity to ride for a purpose and test themselves to the limit, it was also a successful day.

Tired bodiesTired bodies after the raceAn important feature of the challenge is the ride for a purpose campaign, which was launched in 2010. Riders had been using the race as a platform to raise funds and awareness for their charities for years, but it was only formalised into the campaign last year.

Charity
Charities that are supported include Choc, the Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa; Afrika Tikkun; MAD, Make A Difference; Pink Drive and Child Abuse Prevention. As well as raising funds, supporting a cause or often riding in memory of a loved one, people use the campaign as an opportunity to dress up and spread some light-hearted cheer.

Superheroes, Choc cows and people with pink bras adorning their heads provided some additional entertainment to supportive residents who lined the streets. Commentators also picked up on the wide array of Movember moustaches sported by male riders.

The Movember movement is a campaign held each November, when men are encouraged to grow their moustaches to show support for men’s health issues, especially prostate cancer.

In addition to the main Cycle Challenge, there are the Children’s Cycle Challenge and the Mountain Bike Challenge. The children’s race took place on 12 November, and the mountain bike race on 13 November.