Volta a Goba 3 - 135km. This race is undulating with a few sharp but short climbs along the way to spice up the race. The back road behind the Barragem with it's undulations softens up the peloton before reaching the Goba turn-off and the real up-and-down starts. This year's race was quite different to last year where Mario Sauder, our then resident triathlete, broke from the peloton and did more than half of the race on his own to solo to victory in 4:20. This year's pace was quite a lot higher thanks to the visiting Swazi's (Thulani, Carlos and William) and their penchant for attacking hills. Thulani in particular kept the pace high whenever it faltered, which brought us a winning time of 4:0:4:30. Thanks Thulani! But final honours wouldn't go to him though. The final sprint was contended between Mario Traversi (your's truly) and Miguel Teixeira in a weaving battle over the two lanes of the EN4 (traffic very kindly didn't run us over and kept behind us all the way to the finish). Miguel did all in his power to shake off the older italian cyclist but to no avail and with a hundred metres to go it was a sprint finish. Some confusion about the finish line (there were no cones as someone forgot them) was an unwelcome consequence of our informal race organisation, something that we hope to improve in the future. Miguel managed to pip Mario just cm's from the supposed finish line and take another victory. As the Copa Ciclismo classification stands, it's a two horse race for the moment.
Below a photo essay by Guilherme Da Silva, our photographer for the day. If he doesn't take better pictures next time, I may have to give up cycling and go back to my first passion, photography!
Enjoy.
Start line - 7:02 am
Mario with Mathieu, our latest cycling addition
Support vehicles kept us fed and watered throughout the race
Guess who's in front!?
On the final stretch, getting ready for the sprint
Where's the finish?!
Thulani Gule, who pushed most of the way
Group photo with organisers
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