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Johannesburg - Qhubeka's Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg and Cherise Taylor won the men's and women's time trial of the Mpumalanga Sport Council 2012 SA National Road Cycling Championships in Nelspruit on Thursday.
Van Rensburg clocked the fastest time on the elite men's race 40km course in 50 minutes 40.25 seconds.
Taylor secured her second consecutive Championship title, completing the 30km women's course in 45 minutes 34.92 seconds.
Twenty three-year-old Pretoria resident Van Rensburg was elated with his victory.
"It's quite special to be the SA Time Trial Champion. The team trained here in Nelspruit two to three weeks ago and we knew the course really well. Our training was specific on our Concept time trial bikes. They are really top of the range and our equipment is all the latest technology."
Last year's international racing results boosted Van Rensburg's confidence ahead of the SA Road Champs: "Since the start of the season I knew that I could win this, and the preparation has paid off.
"The course was undulating and quite hard. I realised that if I was in trouble on the course, that I would not be able to make up the time again, and fortunately I managed to pace myself well."
In the women's race, Taylor, 22, was equally elated with her new title: "It was pretty hard, a time trial is always hard," exclaimed the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast cycling star.
"The competition was tough, but I was so fortunate to have a great team manager David Pieterse, who really motivated me today. I am really ecstatic for winning the title; it is such a hard discipline to win."
Taylor's preparations have been solid in the lead up to the SA Championships, and her recent move to training with coach Jeroen Swart is going really well.
"Jeroen is monitoring my power and heart rate on a weekly basis. I leave for Europe on the 23rd March, and I am really looking forward to the rest of the year."
