Cycling News and Race Results

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg is the tour’s best u.23-rider and overall 10^th also just 2:22 behind.

But still Impey is not satisfied.

“It is nice to have two jerseys, but obviously we are going for gold. The yellow jersey is the one we really want.

“Today stage with its four tough climbs is one where the tour can be won or lost. That is why it is going to be important that as many of us have to be out in front throughout the stage.”

As Impey predicted a strong Southeaster wind was one of the main role players during yesterday’s third stage.

The wind tested the riders from behind, from the front and the side. There were moments when the riders helped by the wind were speeding along at 71km/h. At other times they were racing into a headwind blowing at 40km/h and as if that was not enough the rider's technical and tactical skills were tested by crosswinds.

Needless to say due to the wind the stage’s deciding moment happened about after 140 kilometers of racing when a gutter formed that led to the peloton splitting.

Impey, Janse van Rensburg and Christoff van Heerden were the three MTN/Qhubeka-riders who managed to get into the breakaway group which consist of about 24 riders.

Impey played a tactical game, waiting until they raced back into Port Elizabeth.

“As South Africans we had a slight advantage because we knew what to expect as we raced on the same route during the South African Road Championship.

“With Reinardt’s help I managed to win both the king of the mountain primes.”

Going into the final sprint to the line Impey did his best to put Janse van Rensburg in a favourable position to contest the sprint to the line.

Janse van Rensburg admits that he made a slight judgment error.

“I think I was a little bit too eager that led to me taking the sprint long. It was a mistake because when the real sprint started I had nothing left in my legs.”

However Janse van Rensburg is confident of getting his moment of glory on the winner's podium.

“Since the Tour of Gabon I have been battling a virus which prevented me from riding as I really would have liked but it would seem as if the problem might be something of the past. I can feel that I am getting stronger as the tour progress.”’

Arran Brown and Johann van Zyl (Toyota CSA) and three of the international riders got away in break after just eight kilometers of racing. They were only caught with roughly 50 kilometers to go.

Even then Brown refused to give up. He went straight to the front to help keep the pace high and the setting up of the gutter. Only then he sat up knowing that he had done his job.

Dennis van Niekerk gave his team manager, Tiaan Kannemeyer, a slight scare when he crashed after the peloton split but luckily he kept his cool.

He was almost immediately back on his bike racing at full speed to limit his damages. In the end he finished just 46 seconds behind Impey and Janse van Rensburg.

Tiaan Kannemeyer, MTN/Qhubeka’s team manager, described the third stage as one the most exciting he had the privilege to witness from the team car.

Third stage (171km - Port Elizabeth):

1.Yohann Gene (Europcar)  4h05m27s;

2. Johann Rabie (Bonitas);

3. Gregory Habeaux (VWA);

4. Tony Hurel (Europcar);

5. Kristian House (Rapha Condor);

6. Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Rapha Condor);

7. Jacques Janse van Rensburg (Burgos2016);

8. Thomas Degand (VWA);

9. David George (360Life);

10. Perri Quemeneur (Europcar) all same time

General Classification:

1. Kristian House (Rapha Condor) 7h47m30s;

2. Tony Hurel (Europcar);

3. Jacques Janse van Rensburg (Burgos2016);

4. David George (360Life);