Having recorded two wins in 2010, Team Biogen Toyota’s Ashleigh Moolman Pasio finished a fantastic duel to force a fantastic third title for the year at the 25th edition of the Herald VW Classic on the weekend, despite the team being outnumbered by the competition.

The cycle race was treated with a big contingent of international riders, featuring Jenny Stenerhage (Alpha Pharm), Swedish national champion, Linn Torpe (Bizhub), Norwegian national champ, Jennifer Hohl (Bizhub), Swiss national champ, Anriëtte Schoeman (Biogen Toyota) an ex- multi-SA champion, and Catherine Williamson (Bizhub), top British cyclist.

Right from the start of the race Team Bizhub represented by eight riders made it clear, with numerous continuous attacks, that no mercy would be shown in the race. Team Biogen Toyota, represented by Moolman Pasio and Schoeman, was totally outnumbered, and was forced to close gaps.

With three riders, Team MTN found themselves in a similar situation and within 5km, more that half of the ladies were left behind as Bizhub launched attack after attack.

This situation changed drastically as the race went into the climbs at Chelsea towards Welcome Avenue. Pressure from Schoeman, Williamson and Moolman Pasio left Corbet, Arien Tortius and Torpe behind.

Schoeman and Moolman Pasio went over the Theescombe climb first followed by eight riders. Tortuis and Torpe managed chase back to the leading bunch down the Theescombe climb towards Kragga Kamma, rejoining the bunch 2km later.

The Bizhub team re-grouped and launched an attack up the Gunshot drag, 25km into the race. Several attacks were launched by the team on the straights at Altona, on the Fairview Road.

At 50km into the race Biogen Toyota took control up the 3km Maitland’s climb, when Schoeman and Moolman Pasio set a furious pace, with both leading the pack over the summit. Anli Pretorius (MTN), Tortius, Yolandi du Toit and Lindi Erasmus were left behind, while Stenerhage and Hohl followed Schoeman and Moolman Pasio over the climb.

Pretoruis and Erasmus managed to get back to the leaders on the Beach view road after a vicious downhill chase. At Beachview it was clear that the leading group of 11 riders would stay away. MTN and Bizhub tried several breakaways along Willows with 15km to go, while Schoeman worked hard in closing the gaps.

With 10 km to go the ladies caught up with the 40-plus men’s vets and the two groups approached the finish together. Lylanie Lauwrens (MTN) started the sprint with 500m to go, followed by Stenerhage and Williamson, with Moolman Pasio right behind Stenerhage.

But gold medallist Moolman Pasio made her move with 200m to go, passing Stenerhage to take her third consecutive Classic in 3:03:50. Stenerhage finished second with Williamson in third taking bronze, Hohl fourth, Jade Roberts fifth and Schoeman sixth, all in the same time.

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