Some of South Africa’s most hardcore cyclists will take to battling the stopwatch tomorrow during the first day of South Africa’s Road Championships in Pretoria.
There is a good reason why there is often referred to the individual time trial as the “race of truth”. It is just the rider, his bike, the road and a relentless ticking stopwatch. There comes a stage during the race when it becomes all about mind over body. It is those who then prevail that will reap the award.
Andries Nigrini (Tuks) who is riding for the Luso Cycling Team is one who will be taking on the challenge at Rooiwal, outside Pretoria. He has shown signs that he can be the master of the art of time trialling. Earlier this year during the Mpumalanga Cycle Tour’s “race of truth” he set the fastest time by an under-23 rider.
Being also an avid mountain biker he admits to relishing the challenge of pushing himself to the limits. He aims to be one of the three fastest in the under-23 time trial. However, he is also a realist.
“Tomorrow’s route is to flat. I would have loved it if there was a small uphill section on the route. It does not need to be steep; it should just slow the bigger riders down somewhat. Then I would have backed myself,” said Nigrini who is the overall winner of the Varsity Mountain Bike-series.
According to him the secret to riding a good time trial is being focussed entirely from the moment you line up to race.
“When racing a time trial the only thing that matter is to ensure my technique is as perfect as can be and that my pedal rate is what it should be. If my legs are starting to burn, I know I am doing something right.”
Nigrini will also be competing in the road race on Sunday. He knows that he and his teammates are in for a tough challenge as most of South Africa’s international professional riders are also competing.
It is a given that the likes of Daryl Impey who this year became the first rider to win the Tour Down Under two years in succession and who is a former wearer of the yellow jersey during the Tour de France have not come out to play games.
The same goes for Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, Ryan Gibbons, Jacques Janse van Rensburg, Jaco Venter, Dylan Girdlestone and Songezo Jim.
But then again Nigrini’s focus is not to win overall. His focus is to get a good result in the under-23 category. Depending on what his role for the team is going to be and whether he can be tactical savvy, he could be in the front when it matters.
Alex Worsdale (Tuks) who rides for Team Office Guru is another rider that might impact the under-23 race. Last year he was the best under-23 rider during the 94.7-race. He also impressed during the Mpumalanga Tour finishing 8th overall, as well as being second in the king of the mountains competition and finishing second in the sixth stage.
According to Worsdale the hilly course around the Union Buildings does suit him.
“Our team’s aim for Sunday is to try to get two riders to finish in the top three in the under-23-race. Hopefully, I will be in the thick of things when it matters,” said Worsdale
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