Hilly NC in South Africa. Home team Project Africa with 9 riders clearly the favourite. Though in 3x3 squads. Augustyn, J. Janse Van Rensburg/Rabie and Hoffman to lead them.
Only other team with more than 1 rider is Eritel having the two Van Heerden`s, who would prefer flat terrain though.
Single riders, but definitely none to underestimate.
Impey (Kenya), Venter (VW), Meintjes (Quickstep). Then outsiders Kriek, van Zyl or Jim.
4 riders in the break and we see Project Africa`s tactic. Instead of going for Augustyn, the team sends his team mate R. Janse van Rensburg into the break. Also their Hoffman squad with one rider in Girdlestone.
The other two are Red Bull`s Jim and Eritel`s J. Van Heerden. Seeing that Jim is a loanie by Project Africa, chances are high to get the jersey. That said their 2nd squad around Rabie could disturb their advantage.
And even though the Africa lineup in the peloton looks fast, it isn`t. More than 6min already for the four in front after one lap.
And it`s up to 17min with 5km to go, when we see the first attack. It`s Jim trying to show his 2015 Red Bull jersey a very last time.
Janse van Rensburg follows immediately.
Unfortunately for Africa though, Girdlestone decides to make it exciting again as he pulls the only non 2016 P:Africa rider with him almost closing to his team mate, while Jim gives it another try.
And they are back together.
Can Eritel`s Van Heerden fool the others and take the glory home?
Unlikely as he suffers on the uphill the most and also has a windy barrier ahead of him now.
Janse van Rensburg in the front now with Jim and Girdlestone behind.
And first with a notable gap now. Jim did attack too much it seems while Girdlestone just doesn`t have the energy today.
So R. Janse van Rensburg takes the 2015 NC title in the South African Road Race and will wear the National jersey in 2016.
Behind Girdlestone outsprints Jim for 2nd while Van Heerden as last finisher gave it a nice try to steal the jersey.
R. Janse van Rensburg with a great opportunity to make the double. While being a little surprise in the RR, he is the clear favourite in the ITT. Only his team mate Thomson is expected to give him a proper fight while Augustyn, J. Janse van Rensburg and Rabie at least should secure that the jersey goes to the home team.
Thomson, winner in 2014, might lose the shirt today.
At the first checkpoint, R. Janse van Rensburg is 17s faster.
His brother, Smit, Rabie and Augustyn all follow behind this duo then making it a P:A domination.
But the double for Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg was never in danger as the gap became bigger with every split. In the end 61s for him ahead of Thomson and 1'40 to his brother. Well done to him and congrats Project: Africa for the home double.
Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg
