According to Team Manager Kevin Campbell, it was a clear, sunny day in the green Magalies Mountains as the riders gathered. The women started alongside the 50+ Veteran Men. “They immediately set about the task at hand, setting an even tempo – fully aware that the dreaded Hekkies climb lay 70km ahead,” says Campbell. “A few riders, including MTN-Qhubeka's Charlotte van der Merwe, Jeaun-Mari Breytenbach and Sarah Chemaly participated in attacks and counter attacks, trading efforts with their Nashua Toyota rivals, but these efforts were soon neutralised by the USN- and FJR- led peloton.
As the peloton turned onto the lower slopes of 'klein' Hekkies, the climbers on the teams were eager to push forward. Olivier was driving at a relentless pace up the climb. She easily won the QOM at the top of the climb a comfortable 15 second lead ahead of Nashua Toyota's Jo van der Winkle.
“Lise is currently on top form and is improving with every race,” says Campbell. “The leading group of four women (Lise, USN's Cherise Taylor, and Anriette Schoeman and Jo van Winkle of Nashua Toyota) were joined by a few vet 50+ men after the climb and this group set about distancing themselves from the chasers.
“Cherise unluckily punctured at the 80km mark, but a quick wheel change saw her soon rejoin the leaders that had sportingly waited for her. To her misfortune the race commissaire judged her to have paced back to the leaders illegally and disqualified her.”
This left three women in contention for the win with the chasing group still languishing over two minutes behind.
“Jo fired off a few attacks in the closing kilometres but Lise easily neutralized these attempts,” says Campbell. “As the riders turned right to fight up the difficult finishing straight, Anriette attacked first and Lise was forced to chase. Jo timed her sprint perfectly and just managed to pip Lise to the finish line.
“Jo has shown some superb form since returning from racing in Europe and the diminutive National Team member is proving her worth.
“Lise is also consistently outperforming many of her more experienced rivals and the MTN-Qhubeka women have developed from a team with potential into a team of top class performers,” beams Campbell proudly.
“Lise has worked hard to become one of the country’s best racers and she has been ably supported by her young team mates. The quality of the local women's racing is of a truly high standard. I hope CSA officials understand the need for talent identification and development of young women cyclists.”
