Moolman Aims For Glory in PMB

Top KwaZulu-Natal road racer and national time trial champion Isabel Moolman is aiming for the top step of the podium in her veteran age group of the UCI World Cycling Tour in Pietermaritzburg from 23 to 26 August, against a field that she is fully aware consists of some of the best amateur female road racers in the world.

Moolman was in rampant form at last year’s Msunduzi Road Challenge, the African qualifying leg for the event that was formerly known as the Masters World Championships, winning both her time trial and the 111km road race in her 35-39 age group.

“I feel lucky and privileged enough just to be there but at the same time hope I can stick with the girls up the climbs and get a podium,” says 38-year old Moolman, a mother of two who spends her workdays as a facilitator for the Durban Metro Police Training Academy.

“Some of us are amateurs, some are ex-pros, some are housewives and some see it as a tough hobby,” she added. “The status of this competition is the fact that the event is greater than us. We are able to compete against people from all over the world in a sport that we all love and that is enough status for any amateur competition.”

Moolman has been a regular top achiever in the colours of her current Mr Price KZN club, and in earlier years as part of the Toyota Cycle Lab Super Cycling Ladies Team that included stars such as Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and Jo van der Winkel, who represented South Africa at the London Olympics.

Moolman was coaxed into road cycling by her husband Werner after starting her family and even from a social start she made her prescience felt, until she stood on the podium in the Amashova in her veteran category, announcing her arrival as a competitive 32-year old, and she soon earned her a place on the pro women’s team.

After tasting success, her time on the team was cut short by a serious dose of tick bite fever in early 2010, and she returned to the competitive fray in 2011 with top-three finishes Willro, Lost City and OFM Classics.

“My highlights of this year were winning the SA road race title, competing at the Tour de Free State and of course the upcoming UWCT Final 2012 event in Pietermaritzburg.”

She is thrilled to be able to take part in the event this year, as it is the first time that it has been held outside of Europe, allowing her to compete for the first time. “I have been invited to take part before but I have not been able to afford to make the trip,” said Moolman.

“My biggest concern is to stay injury free,” said Moolman who battled with a knee injury at the end of last year. “I have been spending some more time in the gym to strengthen the muscles around my knee. For power and more cross training I have been doing more mountain biking than usual. My road training is still the toughest of all with lots of structured interval training.

“I do not have much spare time for any hobbies but cannot pass on a braai with good friends or family. I am pretty much capable of trading one of my body parts for good red wine, sushi or chocolates,” chirped Moolman. “If I win at the UCI World Cycling Tour Final I will not have chocolates and red wine for a month!”

More information can be found at UCI World Cycling Tour Final 2012 website.