Copa2013 - Clássica de Goba - Race 1

Race started at 8:08, due to late arrival of Swazi cyclists who had to battle customs and bad weather on their side of the border.  However race started with the clouds parting and the only water we had was the wet asphalt in Goba.  Peloton started off at a healthy pace and shed some riders on Pedreira hill, and then gunned it on the descent, but once on the flat eased up and a few riders who were dropped managed to join back on.  The pace was fairly steady with Bruno doing quite a bit of pace-making and Betinho putting in a few digs, and Thulani also taking up the pace-making at the front.  The fight for position within the peloton was tough as riders tried to stay out of the head-wind. Once the Goba climb started though the peloton fragmented into 2 main bunches and a few stragglers.  After 10km of climinb Miguel crested first with Vicente in tow, then Thulani about 50 seconds back and then a big group of riders with Carlos pushing at the front and 5 Swazi's holding his wheel on the descent.  Alvaro "Zeca" was a little behind that group.  On the return leg Vicente had a mechanical which saw him drop from the lead to the chasing group, who in he mean time had also caught Thulani.  Meanwhile Zeca managed to bridge to the chase group.  On the undulating terrain with a favourable tailwind Miguel kept the gap and opened it somewhat, whereas the chase group behind eventually fragmented on the Pedreira climb.  Miguel took line honours with Carlos 6 minutes behind and Zeca and Vicente sprinting for third place.  Thulani Gule, a Swazi rider who has tasted success in previous Copa races, was just behind this group in 5th place.

No helmet - No ride!

Get your back into it, man!

"Zeca" warming up. Carlos looking on has already done a 45km warmup!

MRO Backup vehicle with proper signage!

Zeca outsprinting Vicente for 3rd spot

For those of you without access to the Club Facebook page here are the results and pictures of the Goba Classic:

1- Miguel Duarte - 3:18
2- Carlos Sales - 3:24
3- Alvaro Alves da Cunha 3:26
4- Vicente Mafumo 3:26
5- Thulani Gule Swz 3:27
6- William Kelly Swz 3:36
7- Mshoeshoe Khumalu Swz 3:37
8- Sergio Grichone 3:41
9- Mark Inieli 3:47
10- Artur Simoes Bra 3:48
11- Ian Campbell Gb 4:00
12- Mario Traversi ita 4:00
13- Arsenio Caniat Swz 4:00
14- Abilio Matusse 4:00

(Apologies for any miss-spellings)

A nice big bunch for a change.

DNF: Niall Tierney, Gideon, Betinho Cuambe, Marques Cossa, Paulo Jorge de Almeida

Result of the Mini-goba - 85km
1- Bruno Sousa
A big thanks to NovaVida/MRO than provided the race support vehicle, and Januario who drove it and made sure we had support at the top of Goba, and that the last cyclists had a support car close by.  An informal thanks to Galp Boane for having their petrol station "invaded" by cyclists.  Thanks also to Marques Cossa who after completing his "training ride" with us jumped in the car and together with his wife gave some race support and clocked the riders coming in at the finish.  Lastly a big thanks to all the riders who turned up notwithstanding the news (which thankfully turned out to be false) of bad weather, including our Swazi friends, who all ensure that this Classic was a competitive race and a real cycling festival.

And the winners are...

The calm after the storm before the race

COPA CICLISMO -
Some words about this competition.  This race series started in 2006 as a product of a nascent Clube de Ciclismo de Moçambique, which was created by local and foreign cyclists.  The race series is inspired by the Tour de France and the Giro D'Italia, and each race has points in either sprint, king of the mountain as well as overall.  The previous 2 years we have even managed to give out jerseys to the winners of the various categories.  This year we will have the following categories:
 

 

 

 

 

Black Jersey contenders

- Yellow Jersey - Overall winner
- Green Jersey - Points winner (sprinter)
- Polka-Dot Jersey - King of the Mountains
- White Jersey - Best U-23 rider
- Black Jersey - Last rider (for rider who completes most number of races with fewest points)

Race rules are simple.  Riders get points based on their finishing position, and at the end of the race series the rider with the most wins.  This year's Copa Ciclismo is composed of 6 races.  5 Classics including Goba, Hell of the South, EN1, Namaacha, and Twin Peaks, and 1 time trial.  An important point to make is that these rides are Club rides and are amateur in nature and friendly events.  We do not have road closure and in fact these are unsanctioned events, ridden without road closure or proper public support.  However we do rely on our sponsors and riders to lend a hand to ensure these events are a success and enjoyable for all.  These rides complement the FMC criterium series of races, as they cater to riders who want a longer distance with some mountains thrown in to spice things up, conditions that are not available in Maputo city.  If you would like to support these races such as assisting with logistics, medals, waterpoint, prizes, or better yet want to sponsor the race then you are WELCOME!   We are a group of fanatical cyclists who enjoy riding and competing and are very appreciative of the companies that want to support us. 

Cycling week in review - and it's a busy week!

 

Paris-Nice is underway with Italian sprinter Elia Viviani currently in Yellow.  Lots of Classics riders present, using this race as training, as well as lots of sprinters (but not all, as we'll see below).  Lucky for us in Africa that SuperSport loves the ASO so we will get live shots in the afternoons.
 

Tirreno-Adriatico starts today, arguably a more important race for riders with Tour and Giro overall ambitions, as the start-list includes the likes of Cadel, Contador, Nibali, Rodriguez and Froome and for those who like to watch the sprints, we'll have a Cav vs Greipel duel!  Supersport does not love RAI, so we have to hope there will be highlights or some live action on RAI International.  Hopefully we'll get to see the team time trial, a rare discipline. Below are some fantastic race posters, the most evocative I've seen in a while.. Also Nibali, last year's winner with the famous Tridente in hand.  To the winner go the spoils.. and the podium girls!

On our African racing front, this weekend is the Cape Argus. Ian Campbell, Iulian Circo, Tim Doyle, Cesar Rosário and others will be going.  It'll be the 36th edition of the race. Some important people will be at the race. Can you guess who?

Lance Armstrong?! Obama?!

 

If you guessed Lance, I'm afraid he won't be doing much sport for quite a few years

The week after there's the start of the Cape Epic, an 8 day stage race for real men (and women).  Theron Theunissen, Andre Ittmann, Kallie Calitz, Werner Schoefman, Richard Fair and Shane all taking part. 

 

The fantasy

The reality

(Our own hard men training for the Cape Epic. Or are they training for the Hell of the South??)

In Maputo we'll have the Clássica de Goba on the 17th, starting in Boane to Goba fronteira and back.  We did a training ride on the old road and the bridge is still collapsed and the road has even more pot-holes, so the race will be run out and back on the new road starting 6:30 sharp.  I'm not sure we'll have race support and remember, these are unofficial races.  We will however have jerseys as prizes for the overall winners at the end of the Copa.  New rules this year mean you can only win one jersey, so choose your discipline carefully, Overall, Climber, Sprinter or by age default, best U23 rider.
 
On the 31st we'll have our traditional Easter race, the Hell of the South.  This race will start in Boane out to Moamba and back.  That means TWICE the number of pot-holes and should allow riders who prefer MTB bikes to participate as well.  This is a stupid race, just as stupid as the Paris Roubaix (Hell of the North).  But cycling isn't just about power metres and Vo2 calculations.  It's about taking races by the .. ahem.. you know, those round things... So come on out for a day of craziness.  Start will be early, at 6:30, to make sure we're all back in time for our Easter lunch.

 

If only the Hell of the South road was this good. Unfortunately the potholes have to be seen to be believed.

Weekend rides:

Saturday something light like a Mozal double loop or out to Marracuene and back, up to you guys really.

This sunday I propose a Swazi loop, consolation prize for those not doing the Argus.  The ride starts in Namaacha, cycling down the hill and then towards Goba fronteira, into Siteki and then down into the valley where we join the main Mbabane/Manzini highway and turn right towards Lomaacha and into the Hlane Game reserve (Cyclists beware of Lion and Elephants).  Obligatory photo stop at the famous sign and then on on towards the long and dreadful Lomaacha climb.  

 Your humble author just before being chased away by a lion

It will be a long day in the saddle, look at 6 hours and 150km.  Should make up for not riding the Cape Argus.  Pace will be leisurely except on climbs where each can go at his or her own speed. But we wait on the top to regroup.  Anyone who violates this rule will be given a fine of 4 cokes at the first available rest stop!

Daily rides.. Not sure what's happening there but check in with Ian or Mike via email or sms.

Cheers and good riding at the races.



Oh, almost forgot, yesterday registration opened for the 94.7 cycle tour.  Not as big as the Argus, but just as much fun and a little bit shorter.  Link is here.




Thanks to Google search for pictures found on the internet and relevant photograhers.