Van Rensburg clinches first victory

The weather conditions had played in his team’s favour yesterday, according to Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, after he charged to victory to scoop the elite men’s national road race title for the first time in his career at the SA Road Cycling Championships in Wellington.

The former SA time trial champion, who was third in the solo contest earlier in the week, crossed the line just ahead of Dimension Data team-mate Stefan de Bod who successfully defended his national Under-23 crown.

“This is the first time I have won the nationals road race in any category so it is a very special moment,” Janse van Rensburg said.

“The team was fantastic today. They really did a super job, and the conditions suited us with the strong crosswinds.

“We were always hoping for the wind today and without the wind to make the race hard, it could’ve been trickier for us.”

Willie Smit, who was dropped in a late break, finished third overall to take the silver medal in the elite division.

On Saturday’s penultimate day of the national championships, Heidi Dalton had stunned a quality field to win the elite women’s road race.

The 21-year-old rider broke away from the peloton and produced a superb solo effort to finish nearly four minutes clear.

Defending champion An-Li Kachelhoffer grabbed second spot, edging out Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, who won the time trial title earlier in the week in a tight sprint.