Tour of Good Hope
THREE STARS FOR PINK TREES FOR PAULINE TEAM
The mixed bunch of international as well as national riders in the Pink Trees for Pauline team that took part in the annual Bestmed Tour of Good Hope, South Africa’s premier road race in the Cape Winelands from 5 to 9 March, did extremely well.
Two riders Dorian Wrigley (Johannesburg) and Annemie Koen (Mossel Bay) were on the podium with their respective third places in the Men’s and Women’s Open Category.
Thomas Briggs was crowned King of the Mountain on Friday.
The last stage of the race began at the race centre at the Mandela Legacy and ended with a grueling uphill to the Taal Monument in Paarl.
Dorian Wrigley (49), a veteran rider from Johannesburg, who won the race in the men’s open category last year, finished the five stage race in a time of 15:11:26 only 13 seconds slower than Gavin Ryan (15:11:13) and 1: 44 slower than the winner, Mynardt van der Merwe.
Annemie Koen (31) from Mossel Bay, one of South Africa’s up and coming women cyclists, who wore the Yellow Jersey for the first two days, finished in third position in the Open Category women’s section. She finished 30th overall in the Open Category. Her time for the race was 16:28:31.
Koen dropped back one position on Thursday when Mariska van der Linde was just too strong on the mountain climbs and pushed her out to third position. Marisa managed to hold onto the position and finished in second place with 16:22:37. She came in 28th overall.
The winner, Kelly Tome proved to be a machine during the climbs. She wore the Yellow Jersey on Thursday and Friday and finished 22nd overall in a time of 16:02:41.
Wrigley, Koen and Briggs together with nine cyclists from across the country and abroad competed for the NPO (non profit organisation) Pink Trees for Pauline to generate funds. Pink Trees operates in 115 towns in South Africa to assists patients to gain entry to cancer treatment.
The team’s top riders, who all finished in the top 21 positions were: Wrigley, Briggs, Antonio Cencherle, Nick Vink and Kelson da Cruz.
The other riders of the Pink Trees for Pauline team were: Jan Haas (Cologne, Germany), Guillaume Nel (Durbanville), Mark Kuipers (Pretoria), MC Lamprecht (Johannesburg), Wesley Jonathan (Langebaan working in Saudi Arabia), Kevin Reeves (Cape Town) and Koen.
The riders, dressed in gear sponsored by Master Cargo, a premier transport company moving retail goods countrywide and across the borders, were riding for the awareness as well as to generate funds. With the logo Wrapped in Colour, United in Hope, Pink Trees for Pauline really tries to make a difference in the life of cancer patients.
The team and their supporters managed to raise funds for Pink Trees. You too can still get involved by pledging a donation. Click on the link, It is so easy and by pledging any amount, you too can make it possible for Pink Trees for Pauline to make a difference in the lives of people living with cancer. The link is: https://www.givengain.com/cc/pinktreesforpauline/
(Denise Lloyd)
CAPTION 1:
The stars of the Pink Trees for Pauline riders that finished on the podium at the annual Bestmed Tour of Good Hope. From left: Dorian Wrigley (third in the Open Men’s category), Tom Briggs (King of the Mountain) and Annemie Koen (third in the Open Ladies’ category).
(PHOTO: Denise Lloyd).
CAPTION 2:
The Pink Trees for Pauline driving force behind the riders in the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope cycle tour 2018. From left: Dorian Wrigley (third in the Open Men’s category), Mimi Finestone (interface by goji for Pink Trees), Tom Briggs (King of the Mountain), Adri Janse van Nieuwenhuizen (managing director Pink Trees for Pauline and Annemie Koen (third in the Open Ladies’ category).
(PHOTO: Denise Lloyd)