Prestigious medals were aplenty for the road cycling team participating at the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique that took place from 3rd to 18th September.

From the onset on Thursday (8 September), the South African team began their onslaught despite the threat of non-road closure taking place in the capital city.

Seven South African road cyclists have travelled to Mozambique as part of a 200-strong South African team representing eighteen sporting disciplines at the 2011 All Africa Games, taking place in Maputo. The duration of the Games, which happen every four years, is from 3rd to 18th September.

Arran Brown (MTN-Qhubeka) proved himself to be true to his word when, on Sunday (28 August), he outsprinted Nolan Hoffman (Tasol) to win the last stage of the Tour de Free State.

“It was a great stage. I owe much to my teammates who tactically rode a brilliant race. They set up everything for me so perfectly that I had the luxury of saving myself for the final sprint to the line,” Brown said. He predicted the day before the race that, if given half a chance, he would win.

Neil MacDonald and Waylon Woolcock capped a memorable nine days with overall victory in the second Fairbairn Capital/Old Mutual joBerg2c that finished on the beach in Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday.

The RE:CM duo won six of the nine stages on the 911-kilometre trek from Heidelberg in Johannesburg to record a total time of 34:20:18.

Overall leaders Brandon Stewart and Darren Lill survived yet more body blows to remain ahead on points after round seven of the Fairbairn Capital/Old Mutual joBerg2c that finished at Mackenzie Club in Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday.

“This bike race is like getting into the ring with Mike Tyson,” said FedGroup Berg and Bush’s Stewart after he and his partner finished second on the 87-kilometre trek from Underberg.

The Fairbairn Capital/Old Mutual joBerg2c is fast becoming a two-horse race after another dominant performance by Waylon Woolcock and Neil MacDonald of Team RE:CM and Brandon Stewart and Darren Lill of FedGroup Berg and Bush on Wednesday.

Team RE:CM Waylon Woolcock and Neil MacDonald sent a strong message to the overall leaders when they sprinted to their third stage win in this year’s Fairbairn Capital/Old Mutual joBerg2c.

After 95 kilometres of intense racing, they crossed the line at the picturesque Glengarry Park in the Kamberg region of KwaZulu-Natal in 3:44:13 to edge out Fedgroup Berg and Bush’s overnight leaders, Brandon Stewart and Darren Lill.