Defending champion of Tour de Limpopo Gustav Basson of team TEG Continental started the defense of his title well by winning the first stage of this year’s event.
Basson finished the 175km stage between Bela Bela and Polokwane in 4: 57:58 ahead of Alexander Konychev from Dimension Data for Qubeka Continental and Mark Pritzen from team Office Guru racing respectively.
Basson says he is happy with a good start.
Basson adds that the race was difficult saying competitors have also improved their tactics. The 23-year-old is looking forward to stage 2 which is a 96km stretch from Polokwane to Tzaneen on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the first day of the four stage event did not go on without incident.
Gustav Basson just crossed first #TourDeLimpopo19 #GoLimpopo pic.twitter.com/QYpNu1skvr
— Rakgadi’a bana (@ngwanamogoto) May 15, 2019
International cycling body the UCI’s Erwin Kistermaker says in Mokopane the riders got interrupted by “daily” traffic as the road rangers were all with the leading group.
Passing through Mookgopong headed to Mokopane #tourdelimpopo2019 #GoLimpopo pic.twitter.com/vacKq1m7h1
— Rakgadi’a bana (@ngwanamogoto) May 15, 2019
Kistermaker is pleased the situation was solved swiftly. – Report by Lethabo Kganyago