Moolman-Pasio Defends National Road Race Title

Defending National Champion Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Hitec Products) claimed top honours in the Elite women’s race category, at the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships, which came to a close in Westville today, Sunday 9 February.

Click here for full race results for each category.

The women’s race saw Moolman-Pasio claim the victory after a calculated race with several attacks on the strong field. Cherise Stander crossed the line second, and 18-year-old Heidi Dalton finished third.

“I tried to test everyone’s legs at every opportunity that I could,” said Moolman-Pasio. “I was the only one making the racing today, so I’m really happy that I managed to pull it off as an alone rider. It was a tough job.

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“I just can’t tell you how happy I am – taking the jersey to Europe is such a privilege and such an honour, I’ll really fly the flag very high there.”

Moolman-Pasio bided her time before launching the successful break in the final lap.

“I didn’t want to go too early – it is a tough course, and with the humidity, I was feeling the cramps coming on, so I had to be careful,” said the international cycling professional.

“After halfway – wherever the road wet up, I tried to make it hard for the girls, and coming into the start of the final lap, the string finally snapped, and no-one was behind me, so I drove it as hard as I could until the end.”

Silver medallist, Stander was pleased with her second place: “It was quite an aggressive race and everyone was just watching Ashleigh (Moolman-Pasio) today. The route was quite hard and it was important not to start off hard, and to race within your limits.”

Young Dalton delivered a strong performance in her first year in the Elite category, coming from Junior last year.

“I’m racing with the best women in the country, and the world,” said Dalton. “It was a hard race today, but well done to Ashleigh and Cherise.

“I knew it was going to be tough – it’s my first year Elite, and I was battling in the first three or four laps, but then I just felt I was getting stronger, which is strange because I am still young.

“I’m over the moon with my third place,” said Dalton.

Women’s cycling legend and eight-time National Champion, Anriette Schoeman finished in sixth place: “It was a very tough race, the girls all brought their A-game!

“This course wears you down quite a bit, but it was a privilege for me to race with the elite ladies. Hats off to Time Freight for investing sponsorship into cycling, and to Cycling South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal Cycling for probably one of the best National Championships I’ve ridden.”

Main photo caption: Newly crowned National Champion Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (second from front) on her way to winning the Road Race at the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships, in Westville on Sunday, 9 February. Photo credit: Mylene Paynter

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