The Bonitas Sunday Tribune Gateway Cycle Challenge saw over 700 cyclists take to the startline on Gateway’ boulevard for the events’ second year, raising over R80 000 for the Wildlands Conservation Trust. An overjoyed Chem-spec / Spiga D’ora Cycling Team took three out of the five top places in one of the most exciting road cycling events this year. Micheal Pepper took top honours in the end, winning with a convincing lead over the runners-up.
Pepper from the ChemSpec team took an early lead on the Geoghan circuit. Pepper who crashed after hitting a pot hole, managed to get back to the bunch and then attack and increase the pace, attacking the peleton along the Geoghan Circuit. Pepper then took a commanding lead and shot off the front of the bunch at the 55km mark to open up a sixty second lead on the main chase bunch.
With a twenty strong bunch on the Geoghan circuit, Werner Moolman and Sean Merridew pushed the pace, making the peleton work to keep up with the top riders.
The chasing bunch pushed hard to make contact with Pepper, with Rorke Cruiser, Dane Antill and Richard Baxter making a small break to try catch the elusive ChemSpec rider. However despite this Michael Pepper increased his overall lead to ninety seconds by the 79km mark and was pushing hard to keep away from the chasing pack.
Michael Pepper’s lead was closed back down to sixty seconds at the 95km mark while heading back to Gateway, but he cruised home to win the overall Men’s Title in a time of 2hrs 46min 56sec.
The battle for second place was hotly contested with a group of 8 riders coming together just before Gateway to battle it out. Jason Perriman, Christopher Jennings and Dean Edwards were looking to claim 2nd spot, but it was Sean Merridew who came in the right hand side and swept just infront of Dean Edwards to claim the 2nd place spot. Jason Perriyman took 4th place with Chris Jennings clinching 5th spot.
Isabel Moolman from Mr Price Cycling Club, took control of the ladies race after only 8km and lead from start to finish. Isabel who took off with the 50+ men, dominated the ladies race and came home to win in a time of 3hrs 21min 52sec, over 14min ahead of the second placed Suzette Maritz. 3rd place was clinched by Margaret Scharein and 4th spot going to Charmaine Mc Callum and 5th to Angela Bott.
Race Director Damian Bradley, said he was pleased with the way the event went off, “We had no serious injuries and some fantastic weather. All praise and thanks must go to the Durban Metro Police and the Enforce marshals, who did an outstanding job helped keep the cyclists safe making us proud to have their support”
With the Gateway Cycle Challenge being part of the Bonitas Wild Series which raises proceeds for Conservation and Wildlife in KZN, a significant amount of income was raised to help conservation initiatives of the Wildlands Conservation Trust and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
Andrew Venter, CEO of the Wildlands Conservation Trust said “We are really excited about the success of this event and look forward to growing it under the Wild Series banner as a signature road Cycling event in KZN”
Men’s overall
1. Michael Pepper / 2hrs46min56sec
2. Sean Merridew / 2hrs47min48sec
3. Dean Edwards / 2hrs47min48sec
4. Jason Perryman / 2hrs47min48sec
5. Christopher Jennings / 2hrs47min48sec
Ladies Overall
1. Isabel Moolman / 3hrs21min52sec
2. Suzette Maritz / 3hrs35min22sec
3. Margaret Scharein / 3hrs38min08sec
4. Charmain Mc Cullen / 3hrs38min09sec
5. Angela Bott / 3hrs44min23sec
Men 30-39
1. Donavan Van Gelder
2. Lee Muir
3. Werner Moolman
Ladies 30-39
1. Isalbel Molman
2. Margaret Scharein
3. Charmaine Mc Cullen
