Race Recap: Elite & U23 Men SA Road Champs

results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network

The 2023 South African National Road, Time Trial and Criterium Championships were hosted in Oudtshoorn on the weekend. Photographic guru Rob Ward was on hand and captured the scenes from the combined U23 and Elite Men’s race.

results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
SA’s mountain bike elites, Luke Moir (black helmet) and Alan Hatherly (green jersey) were in Oudtshoorn mixing it with the country’s best skinny wheel Pinners.

The Elite Men’s race took place on Sunday the 12th of February, raced over a distance of 170km’s which comprised five laps of the Volmoed Circuit, nicknamed the Volmoed Koppe. The nickname comes from the three “Koppe” or kicks on the circuit, these kicks would not be an issue for the elite field but would rather present the opportunity for attacks and potential breakaways to form. The riders rolled over the start line at 7 am sharp to start their five laps of the circuit. With temperatures expected to soar towards the 40-degree mark – heat management was a key focus of all the riders. On their way to the Koppe for the first time, a breakaway of 11 riders formed which included Nolan Hoffman (Team DMS Pro Cycling) and 2021 South African National Road Champion, Marc Pritzen (EF Education-NIPPO Development Team). Team Tufo BMC Pro Cycling kept the breakaway at a manageable time gap of around three and a half minutes.

The 11-man breakaway would survive for three laps before being chased down by a second breakaway that had formed. As it turned out, only three riders from the initial breakaway would survive and stay in contention for the SA jersey. The now 10-man breakaway consisting of Stefan de Bod (EF Education-EasyPost), Marc Pritzen, Reinhardt janse van Rensburg (Denver Disruptors), Gert Heyns (Valley Electrical Titan Racing), Gustav Basson (Team DMS Pro Cycling), Alan Hatherly (EF Education-NIPPO Development Team), Kent Main (Team DMS Pro Cycling), Dillon Geary (FirstIB Cycling), Travis Barrett (Girona Racing Academy) and Travis Stedman (Q36.5 Continental Team), would fly around the last lap of the race to bring the race down to a sprint. Janse van Rensburg, with years of experience racing in the World Tour peloton, was the favorite to win. However, Pro Continental rider Travis Stedman out-sprinted the bunch to take the win. Here’s a photo recap of how the race unfolded:

results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
Grupo compacto! The bunch, all together on the first lap approaching the next climb. Soon after this image, ‘shots were fired’ and the bunch began to split.
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
The 11-man break starts to form on the first lap.
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
At the last ‘possible’ moment, Marc Pritzen bridged the gap to the break.
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
Team Tufo kept the break at a manageable time gap.
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
The gap was now over 3 minutes.
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
Jayde Julius (Team Intime Aluminium) did more than his fair share of work on the front of the chase group.
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
The break eventually whittled down to just three riders…
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
… who would be reeled in by a now very select chase group.
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
The final lap and Stedman drives the pace.
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
Hatherly lines up van Rensburg (a good wheel to pick!), Stedman holds the advantage down the middle of the road and Gert Heyns sneaks up the gutter side.
results and race recap of the 2023 south african road cycling championships held in oudtshoorn in south africa on the 12th of february 2023 and as published on bike network
20-year-old Travis Stedman is the new SA Champ and will wear the stripes in Europe this year.

Final results

U23 Men

1st. Travis Stedman
2nd. Dillon Geary
3rd. Luke Moir

Elite Men

1st. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
2nd. Gert Heyns
3rd. Travis Barrett

| WORDS & IMAGES: Rob Ward for Bike Network |

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