The Bestmed-Shukuma Madibaz cycling team have their sights set on the top step of the podium at the three-day University Sport South Africa cycling championship, which starts in Pretoria on July 1. The Port Elizabeth-based riders, who finished second overall on home soil last year, will be aiming to dethrone the hosts and defending champions, the University of Pretoria, in the team classification. The yellow jersey will also be up for grabs as Tuks’s titleholder Willie Smit is currently racing for UCI continental team Vini Fantini-Nippo.
While Bos and Cronjé were forced to miss out on the EP Winter Challenge the following day, their teammates Prinsloo, Nel and Gronum went on to claim second, third and fifth respectively in the 96km road race. The team are currently on a 10-day training camp in Nel’s hometown of Graaff-Reinet to prepare for racing at altitude.
Photo: Gerrit Nel (front) puts his head down in front for teammates Waldo Gronum and Henno Cronjé (obscured) during a recent criterium series race.