Brad Morgan
8 February 2008
Extremely hot and humid conditions challenged the competitors throughout the Intakatech World's View Challenge, a series of five one-day races starting and ending in Pietermaritzburg and featuring some of the best international and local cycling teams.
The event was held in the KwaZulu-Natal capital from 2-7 February.
While the courses were reasonably tough, probably the most difficult obstacle of all for the riders, made of both professional and recreational entrants, was the unforgiving weather, which seemed intent on sucking the energy out of the competitors.
A quality field saw Pro Tour outfits Milram and Liquigas, who finished second in the 2007 Tour standings, facing early season challenges from South Africa's UCI Pro Continental team, Barloworld, as well as some of the leading local teams, among them MTN Energade, Konica-Minolta, and Neotel.
Good showing
Given an opportunity to show their
ability against the Pro Tour big guns and the big guns of Barloworld, the local pros turned in a good showing, not quite managing a win, but capturing a number of podium finishes.
From a South African perspective, the highlight of the event came in race four when Barloworld's Robbie Hunter powered to victory ahead of Konica-Minolta's Christoff van Heerden and MTN Energade's Juan van Heerden as SA riders swept the podium.
Another South African, Nicholas White of MTN Energade, added the King of the Mountains' win for an excellent haul from the home cyclists.
Opening race
White was third in the opening race on Saturday, 2 February, covering 111 kilometres from Pietermaritzburg through Richmond and Camperdown before returning to the KwaZulu-Natal capital.
In trying temperatures that went into the 40s when the humidity was factored in, Liquigas rider Manuel Quinziato scored an impressive win, seven seconds clear of second-placed Andriy Grivko of Milram.
The second day's racing was even tougher, with the temperature soaring to a dangerous 48 degrees.
Due to the extreme conditions, a big gap opened up between the break-away group and the leaders, resulting in the main peleton being pulled from the race after 91 kilometres of the 127.4 kilometre route.
Few finishers
That decision led to only 24 of the 99 starters completing the race, making a loud statement about the difficulty of the conditions.
Team Liquigas scored their second win through Leonardo Bertagnolli, with Milram's Grivko finishing second for the second day in succession. MTN Energade's David George followed up his teammate Nicholas White's third place in the opening race with another third place for the local outfit.
Bertagnolli's victory was even more convincing than Quinziato's the day before; he crossed the line 31 seconds clear of Grivko and 34 seconds ahead of George.
Race three
Race three covered 108 kilometres, from Pietermaritzburg to New Hanover, then Wartburg, and back to Pietermaritzburg.
This time around it came down to a sprint finish with Barloworld's Robbie Hunter, second among sprinters in the Tour de France in 2007, using his experience and outstanding speed to take the line honours.
Milram had to settle for a runner-up finish once again, with Bjorn Schroder edging out Christoff van Heerden of Konica-Minolta for second.
Second successive win
Hunter added a second successive win in race four in another sprint for glory by judging the situation perfectly as the finish line loomed.
Speaking after the race, Hunter paid tribute to the support of his Barloworld teammates and said he was happy to win on home soil because he doesn't get that much opportunity to compete in South Africa.
The winner of the opening race of the International Cycling Union (UCI) 1.1-rated event, Manuel Quinziato, neatly rounded off matters by recording his second victory in Thursday's finale.
Slovakia's Peter Velits, formerly of Konica-Minolta but now with Milram, finished second' with Barloworld newcomer Christian Pfannberger ending third.
Corti's views
Team manager Claudio Corti gave his thoughts on Team Barloworld's performance in the World's View Challenge on the Barloworld website, saying: "The South African races are always good and some of the South African teams have been very strong this week.
"This race has been a great opportunity for the new Team Barloworld cyclists to really become integrated in the team. I am pleased with the team's performance and see this as a good sign for the season ahead."
The future
For Pietermaritzburg, the Intakatech World's View Challenge marked a successful first step in an impressive programme of
international cycling events that will be hosted by the city. Still to come is the UCI Mountain Bike Triple World Cup from 2009 to 2011, and the UCI BMX World Championships in 2010.
The next big event that awaits South African cycling fans is the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour, which will be preceded by the Giro del Capo, and a host of Cycle Tour-related events, starting with the Kid's Life Expo on 28 February.
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