Impey is delighted with form

Having enjoyed an explosive start to the season, Daryl Impey (above) said yesterday he was delighted to build on his form with a maiden double on home soil last week, as he prepared to return to the international circuit.

Impey, who opened his campaign with his first UCI World Tour victory at the Tour Down Under and went on to finish third at the Great Ocean Road Race in Australia last month, secured his seventh career time trial title at the National Road Cycling Championships in Oudtshoorn.

Despite racing without his Mitchelton-Scott professional team, he also recovered from an early crash in the peloton and was involved in a breakaway, delivering a superb performance to outclass the field and lift his maiden SA road race crown.

He was gearing up to continue his impressive 2018 charge in the UAE next week, with the World Tour series resuming at the Abu Dhabi Tour.

“I have lost a few (road race) championships after some bad luck, so it was about time luck was in my favour,” Impey told Cycling South Africa.

“It is a nice relief to finally get the jersey.

“You always have these races that you want to win and finally I can tick off this one.

“I pride myself in wearing the jersey abroad and representing South Africa.”

Jacques Janse van Rensburg took the silver medal in the men’s road race in Oudtshoorn, with Jason Oosthuizen grabbing third place in a three-man sprint to win gold in the Under-23 division at the championships.

Ryan Gibbons earned silver in the elite men’s time trial contest ahead of bronze medallist Rohan du Plooy.

Carla Oberholzer broke clear to secure a dominant victory in the elite women’s road race, with Maroesjka Matthee winning a sprint for second place, and Liezel Jordaan took the time trial title.

I have lost a few (road race) championships after some bad luck, so it was about time luck was in my favour. Daryl Impey