Team Valencia kicked off 2015 full gas at the MP Provincial
road champs in Badplaas on the 17th – 18th January. Four
disciplines of racing take place over the two days with the road race and Time
trial on the Saturday and the Hill Climb and Criterium on the Sunday. Riders
could choose which event/s to partake in. Team Valencia had a reputation to
uphold as they cleaned up in last year’s event.
In the Road Race, Damon Halderman, having just made the leap from the Junior category to U23, won the U23 category and crossed the line second overall in a bunch sprint with Elite rider Richard Swanepoel and U23 Liam de Klerk in 2nd and 3rd. Justin Victor came 3rd in the Elite men’s category and Samantha Sanders and Amy McDougall sprinted for 2nd and 3rd respectively in the women’s race. Martin Oosthuizen came 3rd in the junior category, Jaco Botha 2nd in the Vet Men 30 – 34 category and Tayla Nortje claimed gold in the U/12 riding 6 minutes quicker than her nearest competitor in the 20km.
The toughest race of the weekend was the 20km Time Trial. It
also proved to be the favourite and it saw podiums across the board. Damon
Halderman won the U23 category missing the fastest time of the day by 5
seconds. In the Elite category, Samantha Sanders and Justin Victor both came 2nd,
Martin Oosthuizen claimed his 2nd bronze in the Junior category,
Tayla Nortje cleaned up again in U/12. Bosseau Boshoff showed his years of
pedigree by winning the Vet Men’s category despite having lost fitness due to
illness. Brett Coats won the 50 – 55 category.
Sunday kicked off with a gruelling 5km Hill Climb time trial.
Emily Clarke came 3rd in the Elite Women’s category, Martin
Oosthuizen came 2nd in the Junior category, Tayla Nortje 2nd
in the U/12 category and Brett Coates won the 50 – 55.
The weekend was wrapped up with the 20 min + a lap Criterium.
The racing was intense and exciting, each group finishing off in a sprint. In
the Elite Women’s race Samantha Sanders broke away in a powerful sprint 2 3rds
into the final lap claiming 1st place followed by Dalene van der
Leek and Amy McDougall in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Damon
Halderman secured his 3rd gold when he won the U23 category again. Justin
Victor came 2nd in the Elite men’s race, Martin Oosthuizen 2nd
in the junior category, Jaco Botha came 3rd in the 30 – 34 category
and Tayla Nortje claimed her final gold in the U/12 category.
Damon Halderman deservedly won sportsman of the year 2014 and
16 medals were won all together by Team Valencia, as usual, the athletes showed
an amazing team spirit and camaraderie.
Next up for the team in the XCO provincial champs to be held
at Mankele Bike Park.
