3450

It was lucky thirteenth in windy conditions this past weekend in Port Elizabeth as 33-year old Anriëtte Schoeman successfully defended her title by winning the 90km Makro Defy Cycle Tour for the 13th time.

With more than 800 total cyclists participated in the event, the ladies started in the open licensed category with the elite and vets men. The bunch of 140 lost broke up on the Cows Corner climb as the Mecer NMMU and Pheiffer Cycles riders lifted the pace.

The first serious break came when the junior Gerrit Nel (Mecer) and Ronald Scheffer (Mecer NMMU) broke away at Rocklands 30km into the race, but Schoeman, cycling in Biogen Toyota colours, managed to stay with the main bunch as Allison Hertel (Pheiffer Cycles Walmer Cycling Club) was left behind, to take the Queen of the Mountain on top of Maitlands.

A very strong head wind along the Seaview Road worked in the favor of the chasing group near the Theescomb climb 78km into the race.

But Schoeman endeavored to finished as the first lady home in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 19 seconds, with Allison Hertel finishing second ahead of Gail Willimot (Toyota Cycle Lab) in third, and Liz Hide (Wayne Pheiffer Cycles) in fourth place.

Schoeman, who will be representing South Africa at the world championships in Australia next month, said after her win: “I’m not really a sprinter, but if the situation calls for it, you have to go for it.

“We went out with a positive mindset and took the initiative. It was the perfect team performance,” concluded the elated Viljoen in the post-race interview.