| |
South Africa may not be a nation
known for track cycling but in 24 year old Bernette Beyers
they have a future star in the making. Currently ranked 62nd
in the world and having only
taken up the sport two years ago, she is currently training at the
UCI's World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland, for the second time.
After her first taste of international competition at the
Revolution Series in Great Britain last year, Beyers can now call herself a four time
South African Champion, having dominated the 2016
Championships with gold in the sprint, keirin, 500m time trial
and team sprint.
On a break from training in Aigle, Beyers penned a blog on the
South African Track Championships as she looks ahead to the
2016/17 season and her dream of competing against the best in
the world.
This is my blog about my South African National Track
championships where I manage to win all the big sprint events,
the elite ladies sprint, kierin, 500m time trial and team
sprint.
The event took place in the windy city of Port Elizabeth, with
a 500m open track, so you can imagine all the issues this
brings up with a multi day event. My coach, Peter Lambert and
I drove up by car, which was roughly 800km from Stellenbosch,
my hometown.
Arriving in Port Elizabeth we were greeted with strong gusty
winds, which makes you unmotivated and negative for the
upcoming week, coming from an indoor 250m track back home.
On the first day we had the ladies sprint, after debating with
myself for about an hour with what gear I'm going with to
battle against the wind, I finally come to a conclusion. With
the fastest qualifying time and sprinting into a strong
headwind PB's were the least of my worries for the day. Match
sprints started right after and I made it to the finals,
against the defending champion, Maroesjka Matthee (while going
against her, I kept getting flashbacks from the previous year
were she kicked over me like I was in reverse gear) but this
time I was ready... Winning the sprint I was on top of my game
and gave me more confidence for the week ahead.
Then it was the 500m time trial, which was one of my main
objectives last year, and though that headwind into the back
straight threw me all over the track, I still won it
comfortably. On the same day Maroesjka Matthee and I raced the
team sprint together, she did the first lap and I the second.
We had a good starts, considering we only trained it once,
seeing Maroesjka's facial expressions on the start next too me
(after asking her to go to a bigger gear 30min before the
race) gave me a smile when we started.
Knowing she gave
everything to get the gear on the role, which delivered me on
a comfortable speed after 250m, next time she can go much
bigger with her gear haha! After she delivered me I gave it
everything, as I wanted us to be on top of the podium. To my
delight we broke the National Record and came first. It was so
unexpected, just showing you we make a mean team. Considering
it being an open 500m track with bad weather conditions, I
couldn't have ended the day better.
My last event was the ladies kierin, lying awake the night
before trying to figure out a few strategies. I decided
picking up the speed when the motorbike goes off and jumping
early... More then a lap to go, 600m of pure power I had to
bring on this sprint. A lot of things was counting against me,
having the wind from the back when jumping and attacking the
wind straight from the front after the second banking and
wondering who is going to react on my attack. Going up on the
banking before the jump, I could feel the wind throwing my
five spoke and disc and decided I have to attack if I want too
stay on my bike. Jumping down from the banking I could see
from the side that I was not the only one attacking. Maroesjka
Matthee and Charlene Du Preez were also attacking.
I decided
not to sit on their wheel, as I approached the girls with good
speed I took my advantage from the wind behind to pick up
enough speed passing them on the banking and making a massive
gap between me and the two girls in the headwind, not looking
back until I reached the line. I made it! I came first not
thinking much I wished I could just fall down and land on
something soft as it felt like I left my legs on the last
banking towards the finish line, it felt I could pass out
afterwards! The lactic in my legs went up to my eyeballs,
just unbearable and it took me at least five minutes before I
could walk or talk... This was a great race to watch with a
lot of excitement.
This was for me a very exciting experience and event I would
never forget.
It all came to a very quick end and no real big celebrations,
as I had to drive back to Cape Town because my flight was
booked for Switzerland to start my season training and racing
at the UCI's World Cycling Centre.
So if you see a South African girl racing on wooden tracks on
the UCI calendar, it is most likely me, hanging on for dear
life!
|
|
