Team RSAWEB takes on the Engen Dynamic 2010

October 15, 2010

Team RSAWEB claimed 5th place at the Engen Dynamic Elite Road Race held this past weekend.

The 99km circular route began it’s course in Wellington, looped past Riebeek Kasteel,  Malmesbury, around Perdeberg Eco-trail and back into Wellington.

Robert Quinn of Team RSAWEB reflects on the race:

After the initial 60 km – at the foot of the Riebeek Kasteel climb –  the race started heating up. We were hit with strong cross-winds as the road curved leftwards, which caused the peloton to string out, and as the climb progressed, riders started peeling off the back, and numerous chase groups formed. At the peak of the climb, heavy cross-winds created more isolation amongst the riders, but the first chase group managed to link up to the lead bunch – this bunch of 25 riders included 3 Team RSAWEB members.

The next 45km was riddled with attacks and gutter sections, with very few opportunities to rest. Team EMG instigated a successful attack and, amidst the chasing bunch, managed to cunningly counter-attack by getting more riders away. These 3 Team EMG riders went on to individually time-trial themselves onto the podium.

The last few kilometers of attacking on the rollers refined the main chase even further, with eleven riders in the home sprint. Team RSAWEB persevered, despite the many setbacks (3 punctures and a broken pedal), to open the sprint, and although it wasn’t timed well, we managed to claim 5th place.

We were anticipating a better finishing in this race, but nevertheless, the Engen Dynamic presented us with a good warm-up for what can be expected at the Amashova race in Durban this weekend.