DUPS MAFUTSENI RACE - Race Report by Bosseau Boshoff

We got invited to do a road race in Swaziland and me being the Roadie that I am I could not resist.

I handpicked my posse and off we went to invade Swaziland.

It was a 100km road race over what was meant to be a “flat” race ( Big lie, thanks Russel)

The day before the race I raced the 50km Das Auto MTB race, I Blew so badly I thought there is no way I would be able to be any help to my fellow riders in the next morning’s race.

I was very surprised to see how well organised and well supported the race was when we got there. With Teams lining up from Mozambique and Swaziland it was marked for a nice Tri Nations Battle.

With nerves and legs a bit toasted we lined up with a plan that if we worked together we could possible get a podium for the team

The Team:    Myself(Veteran)

                    Justin Victor (Elite Men)

                    Damon Halderman (Junior)

                    Martin Oosthuizen (Junior)

                    Demarco Pillay (Youth)

                    Amy Beth McDougall (Elite Ladies)

                    Samantha Sanders (Elite Ladies)

As the race started I rode off the front to see who the aggressors would be during the race so we could start with a game plan. 

There was no response from the bunch and I think most people thought I was just stretching my legs when I left so they let me go. After a couple of km’s I had a nice 2min gap and I thought “well as long as I am away the rest of my team only needs to sit and follow wheels. They would have a fairly easy ride till I get caught.” So off I went.

The Valencia team helped by interfering with the paceline set by the riders from Mozambique and Swaziland but soon they caught on to this and after the 50km turnaround I still had a lead of 1min 10sec. The other teams started a more controlled chase and the wind which had gone from a tailwind to a hectic headwind assisted in them catching me after my Brave / stupid 70km solo breakaway.

With 30km to go and all the team back in the bunch, the attacks started and nobody was going to risk letting anyone get away.

With about 10km to go, Justin Victor attacked forming a break of 4 riders. Martin Oosthuizen counter attacked as soon as Victor’s break got neutralized and he managed to stay away till the 5km mark. Once he got caught, Damon Helderman attacked with less than 4km to go, quickly opening a gap of 30 seconds. He kept it and he went on to get a very well deserved win.

With the run in to the finish the Swaziland National Champ was looking for his leadout man but it seemed he would have to do it on his own. I sat his wheel and waited for him to start the sprint, he went way to early but I must say he has a serious kick on him and I really battled to get onto his wheel. I sat there till the very last moment and then once he had spent all his energy I went past to make it a 1, 2 for the team.

Final Results was

Damon 1^st GC and 1^st Junior

Bosseau 2^nd GC 1^st Vet

Martin Finished 5^th GC 2^nd Junior

Demarco 7^th GC 1^st Under 17

Justin 13^th GC 1^st Elite

Sam 12^th GC 1^st Ladies

Amy who broke 2 spokes finished 23^rd GC 3^rd Ladies

Compliments must go my whole team, they all rode like stars but especially to Justin who rode for the team and sacrificing his own race he guided the youngsters and kept them motivated.

Thanks to Naeem Omar from Valencia without your continued support none of this would have been possible.