Brown wins his second Cycle Challenge
Arran Brown won his second Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge with a sprint finish in Johannesburg on Sunday with MTN Qhubeka teammate Reinardt Janse van Rensburg hot on his heels.
Brown, regained the title he won in 2009 clocking 2:11.47 to win by half a bicycle length and improving on last year's second place.
"It worked out perfectly, we had the right guys on the move at first we were a little concerned because there were five from Bonitas and three of us, but we knew we had enough depth from a lot international riding we had Reinardt Janse van Rensburg with me and Martin Weseman," said Brown.
"Bonitas were keen to ride for the sprint with Tyler [Day] which worked in our favour.
"I think had they attacked us and put us under pressure that might have worked in their favour but they decided on the sprint and Reinardt and I got first and second, so fantastic work by the team."
Brown and his trusted lieutenant throughout the race, Janse van Rensburg broke away at the Nelson Mandela bridge with the sprint specialist crossing the finish line first.
The duo was followed by Tyler Day of Team Bonitas Medscheme, who along with his teammates tried to close down Brown and Janse van Rensburg at the final stretch.
The first and second placed-winners, however, ensured that they pulled away at the right time and it was not enough for the fast-finishing Day to overcome.
Brown, who was tipped as the favourite, won South Africa's big three races in 2009, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, the Durban Amashova and the Cycle Challenge.
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio of Nashua Toyota won a close sprint finish to take the women's title with Cherise Taylor of USN following shortly behind her.
Moolman-Pasio, Joanna Van De Winkel, Taylor and Lise Olivier were in front for approximately 80km of the race with the quartet taking each other on in the final sprint to the finish.
"We were out there all alone the four of us and there was a lot of wind so it was a hard day out there," said Moolman-Pasio.
"I must admit the wind was strong and I wasn't feeling so great today, so I am very happy to take the win, it was a bit of a surprise to me."
Moolman-Pasio has only ridden the Cycle Challenge once and finished fifth the last time she cycled in the race.
RESULTS - MEN
Arran Brown 2:11:46
Reinardt Janse van Rensburg 2:11:47
Tyler Day 2:11:47
Martin Wesemann 2:11:50
Hanco Kachelhoffer 2:11:50
Johann Rabie 2:11:50
Louis Meintjes 2:11:50
Jason Bakke 2:11:51
James Perry 2:11:52
Darren Lill 2:12:24
RESULTS - WOMEN
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio 2:43:10
Cherise Taylor 2:43:10
Jo Van De Winkel 2:43:10
Lise Olivier 2:43:12
Robyn De Groot 2:44:48