Impey to lead SA challenge

Johannesburg - Daryl Impey will represent South Africa at the 2014 UCI Road World Championships taking place in Ponferrada, Spain, from September 21 to 28.

Impey, who made history last year as the first African to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, was cleared of doping charges last month.

He had tested positive in February for the prescription diuretic Probenecid after unknowingly coming into contact with trace amounts of the prohibited substance.

Jay Thomson, who was scheduled to race in the time trial, will no longer be competing. Both Thomson and Impey opted not to race the time trial as they felt they had not spent enough time on the time trial specific bike in the lead-up to the championships.

Impey will focus on the road race.

Former South African champion Robbie Hunter will assist with the team manager's duties.

SA team:

Elite men:
Daryl Impey, Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg, Jacques Janse van Rensburg.

Under 23:
Louis Meintjes, Jayde Julius, Kevin Patten, Willie Smit.

Elite women:
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, An-Li Kachelhoffer, Heidi Dalton.

Junior men:
Gustav Basson, Ivan Venter, Graeme Ockhuis, Stefan de Bod (non-travelling reserve).

Junior women:
Monique Gerber, Michelle Benson, Catherine Colyn.