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The Jock, a twist to the old classic
Tiaan Kannemeyer of House of Paint has proven he is back at the top by winning the Bio Anabolics Jock Cycle Classique in the Lowveld on Saturday.
Kannemeyer won the final stage of three to take the overall lead after a furious battle between many riders. The race had returned to it's earlier format of three stages along the circular route from Barberton to Nelspruit, Kaapmuiden and back to Barberton.
This has always been a winning formula in attracting people to the event in mid winter, and it seemed to have worked again with many people enjoying the race this year.
It may not be a 'big' race by elite standards, but the short stages were extremely intense, and after a total of 140 km by the end of final stage, the front riders were shattered!
Stage 1 - Barberton to Nelspruit (45km)
The race started off in Barberton, and after the ascent of 'Hilltop' climb, the riders finished on the outskirts of Nelspruit after 45km. The splits that occurred on the climb did not last as riders managed to get back to the front, and the win came from this group.
Arran Brown (Medscheme), Nico Bell and Gawie Combrink (TCS) had only just rejoined the front runners in the last few kilometers as hometown rider, Bell, made an attempt at escaping for the finish in the final kilometer. Arran Brown saw the move and opened up his sprint to catch Bell on the line, pipping him for the stage win.
Results - Elite Men
1st Arran Brown - Team Medscheme 1:01:48
2nd Nico Bell - TCS st.
3rd Christoff van Heerden - MTN Energade st.
Stage 2 - Nelspruit to Kaapmuiden (45km)
The following stage was one of the toughest over the dreaded climb of Boulders. The race was split into pieces over the climb and Kannemeyer was the first to the top, followed by Evans (MTN) and Kachelhoffer (Medscheme). The three leaders were joined by more riders on the descent into Kappmuiden and the stage ended in a sprint. Kachelhoffer managed to win it convincingly.
The race was still wide open with many riders very close on time. This meant that there was everything to race for in the final stage to Barberton.
Results - Elite Men
1st Hanco Kachelhoffer - Team Medscheme 1:11:09
2nd Kevin Evans - MTN Energade st.
3rd Shaun Ward - Panda st.
Stage 3 - Kaapmuiden to Barberton (50km)
The final stage started off aggressively with MTN Energade driving the attacks. They were putting the pressure on Team Medscheme and House of Paint to follow all the moves, and it made for very exciting racing. Many moves went and were caught, but Medscheme kept the tempo in the hope that Kachelhoffer could get a result in the final stage to take the overall win.
The race splintered under the pressure and in the last few kilometers only a handful of riders were left, but the slight drag into the town of Barberton is where the difference was made. This is when Kannemeyer made his move with about two kilometers remaining. Dylan Girdlestone of MTN went after him, but was just a few seconds short of catching him at the finish line. The rest of the riders crept home at small intervals as they dragged themselves up the last meters of what must have felt like a mountain top finish!
Results - Elite Men
1st Tiaan Kannemeyer - House of Paint 1:16:26
2nd Dylan Girdlestone - MTN Energade @ 4sec
3rd Jason Bakke - House of Paint @ 8 sec
Tiann Kannemeyer, a previous SA Champion, had raced in Europe for Team Barloworld, but his career had taken a drastic downward turn after he broke his femur in a crash while racing. After 'retiring', Tiaan has made a return to the sport, this year riding for the team House of Paint, he has started to show some of his earlier ability. This victory at the Jock is another step for him on his return to the top level in South Africa.
"I have been feeling good in the races, and I have been enjoying some mountain bike races as well as those on the road. It has been a tough race with MTN attacking all day. I managed to be in some good moves, but at the end, I got away alone to take the stage and luckily the overall win as well!" said a very pleased Kannemeyer.
Elite Men Top 10
Jock Bio Anabolic Cycle Classic (3 stage - 140km)
Elite Men
1st Tiaan Kannemeyer - House of Paint
2nd Dylan Girdlestone - MTN Energade
3rd Shaun Ward - Panda
4th Hanco Kachelhoffer - Team Medscheme
5th Johan Rabie - Team Medscheme
6th Jaco Venter - MTN Energade
7th Kevin Evans - MTN Energade
8th Jason Bakke - House of Paint
9th Gawie Conbrink - TCS
10th Michael Pepper - House of Paint
