More than 8000 cyclists started the Pick ‘n Pay Amashova National Classic on Sunday in Pietermaritzburg, including a registered ladies bunch consisting of some 150 cyclists.
Drama arose early into the race when Marissa van der Merwe (Proline Computers) punctured up Fox Hill after 6.8 kilometres, but a quick wheel-change by her support team got her back to the bunch only one kilometre into the race, as the ladies started the sprint for the first Queen of the Mountains prime.
Robyn de Groot saved the day for Team Proline Computers when she took the first Queen of the Mountain award 8.3km into the race, just ahead of Lynette Burger (Cycle Lab).
Team Konica Minolta was next to suffer calamity, when Yolandi du Toit was struck by mechanical problems, but she also managed to work her way back to the bunch, after being left behind.
A vicious attack ripped the bunch apart into many smaller groups at Drummond, when Marissa van der Merwe and Cherise Taylor (Konica Minolta) picked up their speed in the approach to the second QoM.
But Anriette Schoeman (Proline Computers) was the first rider over the top to take the second QOM, followed by a break-away bunch of 11 riders, and it was clear that some of the group were taking heavy strain.
The top cannons sensed this vulnerability, and 58km into the race Robyn de Groot and Marissa van der Merwe (both Proline) launched another big attack, which left Cherise Taylor and Lizette Nortje behind.
At the 65km mark at Fields Hill, the main role-players were van der Merwe, Du Toit, Schoeman, De Groot, Roberts, Binneman, Burger and Naude.
Team Proline Computers launched a series of attacks with 34km to go as Marissa van der Merwe and Robyn de Groot tried to break away from the bunch.
Louise Murphy, Lizette Nortje and Maliza Monroe managed to work their way back to the bunch with 12km to go, and the stage was set for a sprint finish.
Lizette Nortje and Robyn de Groot (Proline Computers) worked very in the last 4km of the race to set the sprint up for Proline Computers’ designated sprinters, Marissa van der Merwe and Anriette Schoeman.
Schoeman managed to take the sprint and overall win for the fourth time in a time of 03:00:47, with Lynette Burger Cycle Lab finishing second, and Marissa van der Merwe third, all accorded the same race time.
Click here to see the abridged Amashovashova women’s race results.
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