I always look for any excuse to head out to the Franschhoek valley and this time it was very easy with a race being staged at the Solms Delta Estate! There was also little convincing my wife Jayde with the mention of a nice post-race Sunday lunch in Franschhoek.
It was great to have my team mate from Blend Property, Charles Keey also on the start line to throw in a bit of team tactics in this very fast 3x20km lap race around the wine farms.
After the initial split in the field it was only 6 guys left up front. Charles didn't waste much time and before the end of the first lap had managed to get away with one of the other guys and opened up a lead of about 1min over the rest of us in the group. This meant that I was able to get a free ride in the group along the 4km stretch of road into the wind waiting for the right moment to pounce. This I did about half way through the second lap and managed to get away from the others and then chased hard. In the mean time Charles had managed to shake off the guy that had initially got away with him whom I then caught up to and passed about half way through the third and final lap. All that was left was to hold until the finish and cross the line in 2nd place behind Charles. A great effort from Charles and a good first and second for Team Blend Property!
Showing how far her mountain biking has come along, Jayde also completed the full 60km route (no more shorter/middle distance mountain bike races for her...). Lunch was therefore enjoyed as a good reward in which I, in true South African style, indulged in a superb beef potjie and some red wine.
Next up, that 9-day stage race from Joberg to Scottburgh beach starting on Friday!
It was great to have my team mate from Blend Property, Charles Keey also on the start line to throw in a bit of team tactics in this very fast 3x20km lap race around the wine farms.
After the initial split in the field it was only 6 guys left up front. Charles didn't waste much time and before the end of the first lap had managed to get away with one of the other guys and opened up a lead of about 1min over the rest of us in the group. This meant that I was able to get a free ride in the group along the 4km stretch of road into the wind waiting for the right moment to pounce. This I did about half way through the second lap and managed to get away from the others and then chased hard. In the mean time Charles had managed to shake off the guy that had initially got away with him whom I then caught up to and passed about half way through the third and final lap. All that was left was to hold until the finish and cross the line in 2nd place behind Charles. A great effort from Charles and a good first and second for Team Blend Property!
Showing how far her mountain biking has come along, Jayde also completed the full 60km route (no more shorter/middle distance mountain bike races for her...). Lunch was therefore enjoyed as a good reward in which I, in true South African style, indulged in a superb beef potjie and some red wine.
Next up, that 9-day stage race from Joberg to Scottburgh beach starting on Friday!
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