The Oxford dictionary defines a Professional, in terms of sports, as a person who earns money by practising a particular skill or sport. A person doing for money, what others do for enjoyment.

It defines an Amateur as a person that takes part in sports for enjoyment without being paid.

This weekend 13 people that don’t get paid to enjoy sports went out to enjoy “pain” against all odds. The Thermometer registered 9 degrees on arrival at PL. For these people there is no definition and for those that went out to cheer them on, help and encourage them, literally, they became the real heroes of the day …

Hello and welcome to the race report for the 8th event, the two stage race from Pequenos Libombos (PL) to Namaacha and back, a total of 83km.

Riders met at 6:30 am to organise transportation to the start line about 50km away at the PL Resort. Most of the riders had very little sleep the night before due to the 2006 World Cup matches. But what lay ahead, was now of greater importance.

Again, as always, Richard, Collete, Salma and Yazid were the race supporters, helpers and marshals. Actions speak louder than words. We thank you for your help.

The race began inside the PL compound. Richard signalled the official start. Riders rode together in the neutral zone up to the top of Pedreira where everyone with winter Jackets handed them over to the Backup vehicle.

The attacks began. Riders occupied the whole left lane. The bunch was well shielded from traffic by a vehicle in front and another at the back. The attacks were quickly neutralised. It was clear that the bunch weren’t letting anyone get off the front.

As we got closer to the long climb up to Namaacha riders were beginning to get a little nervous at the front, trying to get the best possible place to begin the climb. Tim Fair was at the helm, clearly making sure that everyone knew that they were about to enter his playground. Before we knew it we had covered 25km and were about to begin the dreaded ascend.

Boom … the climb began, the speed was high 30km/hr. Tim Fair took the lead as riders began to pop off the back. The first KOM, Tim, James, Vicente, Carlos, Grichone. Riders were spread all over the climb. All within reach of each other but with that, tiny, difficult gap, to close down. Tim, James and Vicente were firing those cylinders. I would love to see the power meter for these guys. I am sure they were over clocking.

Tim, James and Vicente were in a league of their own. Imran and Zeca were trying to close down Carlos and Grichone for about 1km. As soon as they were caught Imran launched an attack. Carlos and Grichone were having nothing of it, they closed it down. Again Imran went. The elastic snapped taking Zeca with, but Zeca got the best of Imran. Second KOM, Tim, James, Vicente, Zeca and Imran. Grichone fought back, caught Imran and got dropped again.

Vicente faced a mechanical, he fixed it in less than 20 sec, Zeca passed him, KOM 3, KOM 4 and First stage Tim, James, Zeca, Vicente and Imran. Jorge rode a brilliant pace to catch a few riders in front of him. On the steepest part of the final climb he was flying. If the climb was a little longer, both Imran and Vicente would have been caught and passed.

Tim Fair ascended in just about 39 minutes. The times were very close at the top. Kevin and Michelle made their debut in the league and did very well by pacing themselves well on the 15 km climb. David was clearly not in his best form. In a stage like this he would have most certainly caused havoc. We know what happens when David is shape.

Stage Two – The bunch rode sensibly at high speed down the 15km mountain some speedometers registered an excess of 70km/hr. Unfortunately Grichone had a mechanical problem with his derailleur that almost took him down hard. He had to cut his stage short because his derailleur wouldn’t change gears.

At the bottom the bunch was altogether. James made sure the riders were together before the attacks began. The speed was very high. On the incline to Pedreira the pace was unbearable. Tim and James set a gruesome pace showing no mercy. Only four got to the top together Tim, James, Carlos and Imran. Carlos’s bike skills saved him from a very bad crash after the downhill.

There was quite a shuffle compared to the stage one finish. Carlos jumped substantially from ninth to third. Messias from tenth to sixth. Kevin from eleventh to seventh. Michelle from twelfth to ninth. Bill fought back in stage two and cut down his time loss substantially compared to stage one by 3min31sec. What a fight from one out of shape. The real heroes are those who make a strong come back.

On behalf of all the riders present at the race I would like to thank Richard and Collete Fair for helping with the positions at the bonus spots, finish lines and driving the lead vehicle. Without you there would be a big fight at the end by the riders over who placed where … Salma and Yazid for driving the backup support vehicle. Thanks to Messias Langa who has always spared a few hours to go out a few days before to check the roads, help mark the spots, discuss safety etc. It took us four hours on Saturday after the group ride (slept late on Friday due to World Cup) to check the route, drive back and forth, wait for vehicles to pass, to get a first hand feeling of what could happen at a sprint point on a hill and close to a corner before deciding where to paint the bonus line. Safety was the most important factor in deciding the start, finish and bonus spots because what happens in training becomes very aggressive in racing.

You most certainly set the standards by which others are measured.

THANK YOU ALL AND SEE YOU AT THE NEXT RACE.

Imran

Photo of the Starting Lineup

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