Race Report: Amashova Durban Classic

Our team was in Durban a couple of weeks ago for the Engen Dynamic Cycle Challenge.  I really enjoy the racing on the East Coast and was looking forward to another race in the area.

The race started in rainy conditions that only started clearing up a bit at the halfway mark.  With most of the professional ladies having raced in Europe these were familiar racing conditions.  We knew that it was going to be a hard day on the bike with all the National Team riders being back from the World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.  At the start it was nice to see all the teams represented.  Team Nashua Toyota lined up with seven riders and they were definitely going to be the team to watch.  Both Team MTN Qhubeka and Team USN had four riders each on the start line.  These were the teams in the mix together with a couple of riders from Team FJR.  From the start of the race the pace was on.  Joanna Van De Winkel (Team Nashua Toyota) made the first move up the drag to Fox Hill.  I was expecting Ashleigh Moolman (Team Nashua Toyota) to go for the QOM having won a couple of QOM jerseys in Europe this past season but it was her teammate Anriette Schoeman who went for it.  We realized that they were saving her for a big move later on in the race.  At the top of the climb I managed to outsprint Anriette and Karien van Jaarsveld (Team USN) for the QOM.  Shortly after the QOM I attacked and was followed by Marissa van der Merwe (Team USN) and Joanna.  The three of us stayed away for about 10km after which we were caught by a thinned out bunch.  Cherise Taylor (Team USN) and Charlotte van der Merwe (Team MTN Qhubeka) had a minor crash.  Charlotte managed to get back into the bunch quickly.  We waited for Cherise for about 8km but she never made it over.  This wait was just enough for the cold to set in and I found it difficult to get my legs going again after that.  Team Nashua Toyota was using their younger riders to make the early attacks.  With Team USN out of the race at this point it was up to us to cover every move.  After several attacks by Team Nashua Toyota, Leadri du Toit (Team Nashua Toyota) and Charlotte van der Merwe got a gap on the bunch.  Soon a series of attacks and counterattacks by both Joanna and Ashleigh followed.  Leandri manage to take the second QOM from Charlotte.  Lynette Burger (Team Nashua Toyota) used her excellent descending skills to help her teammates Ashleigh and Joanne down the hill at a blistering pace.  I just managed to stay with them and the four of us got a gap on the rest of the bunch.  As soon as we hit the next hill Lynette dropped from the group and we caught the break with Leandri and Charlotte.  Ashleigh attacked up the hill and with my legs being temporarily out of order I could not respond immediately.  Joanna tried to counter and get across to her teammate but I managed to stay on her wheel.  We had a good gap on the rest of the field and I decided to keep going to ensure a podium finish for our team.  With a teammate out in front Joanna was just sitting on my wheel for the last 40km of the race.  When we got to the finishing stretch it was Joanna who made the first move with just less than 400m to go.  She kicked hard initially and I had to fight to get onto her wheel.  I was able to move up next to her but she just got the better of me on the finish line.

Racing at the East Coast is always a treat and this race yet again did not disappoint.