Ryan Gibbons and S'Anara Grove triumphed at the anniversary 40th aQuellé Amashova Durban Classic race on Sunday. They secured the titles of winners in the elite men's and women's races, respectively.
Amashova Classic Race Details
The main race, covering a distance of 106 km, ran from the Pietermaritzburg town hall to the Masabalala Yengva pedestrian bridge in Durban. The event attracted thousands of cyclists, as recent editions were marred by bad weather, but this time the conditions were almost ideal for winter.
Men's Race Victory
For former professional racer Gibbons, the victory was particularly significant as he was able to participate in one of South Africa's largest races after returning from Europe. He finished first with a time of 2:12:11, ahead of Gustav Basson, who took second place with a time of 2:13:24, and Casper Kruger, who secured third place with a time of 2:13:46.
Gibbons, a cyclist from Johannesburg, was part of a four-man breakaway that provided a decisive advantage early in the race, before making his winning move after Inchanghi. He commented: 'This is a very special event. Amashova is one of the biggest events of the year, and standing on the podium for the 40th anniversary was a huge goal.'
Women's Race and Dominance
In the women's race, Grove demonstrated her superiority, winning the Amashova title for the third consecutive time with a time of 2:30:29. However, she admitted that this year's victory might have been the most enjoyable. Lucy Young took second place with a time of 2:33:49, and Liesel Jordaan received bronze with a time of 2:35:17.
The Durban rider started cautiously in the early stages before making a decisive maneuver on the M13 track after a series of attacks. Grove shared her thoughts: 'I wasn't 100% sure I would win because I wasn't completely confident in my endurance, but I was surprised that I managed to ride solo.'
Significance of the Event for the Founder
The founder of the iconic Amashova National Classic, Dave Wiseman, completed the race despite battling various forms of cancer over the past year. Grove, who also won the debut Amashova criterium, emphasized that adaptability was key to her three-year winning streak. She stated: 'Every time requires something different. Things don't always go according to plan, but you have to work with what you have.'
The anniversary edition held special significance for founder Dave Wiseman, who reflected on the growth of the event: it has transformed from a race with just over 100 participants in the early 1980s into one of South Africa's leading cycling events. Wiseman noted: 'We wanted to create an iconic cycling event for KwaZulu-Natal, and it's incredible to see where it has come.'
Wiseman also shared that he completed the race while fighting cancer, calling the start itself one of his proudest achievements. Despite ongoing treatment, he finished in 3:41:00, only a few minutes behind his personal best time. He concluded: 'It was a good day. I feel much better than I did a couple of months ago, and being here for the 40th anniversary means a lot.'
