Chris Froome, Kenyan born, living in South Africa, but a British passport holder, added to the UK's great start to the season by winning Race two of the Cape Argus Giro del Capo, today.
Froome rode solo for the final 30km of the finishing circuit around Durbanville, leaving his six breakaway companions to sweat out the chase in temperatures pushing 40 degrees.
It was the 23-year old Barloworld rider's first professional win, having signed with the South African owned team last year.
?It was seriously hot out there,? said Froome, ?almost as hot as Kenya. I don't know anyone who likes riding in the heat but I guess others might suffer more than me.
?I went away with Nick White (Medscheme) from the breakaway , leaving my team mate Daryl Impey behind. They brought us back with 30km to go but I attacked just before they caught us. I don't think Nick was expecting it.
His black team strip stained with white salt, Southam joked: ?This is my African outfit. It was hot out there and then it got hotter. It's a different heat to Australia, it's more humid. I drank nine bottles over the 143km.
Added team manager John Herety: ?Tom was strong today but he got worked over by the two teams who had riders in there. We've had our guys in both breaks for the first two days so it's going fine for us.?
Brit Steve Cummings climbed off with Race one winner Robbie Hunter with a lap to go, his job done having got Froome and Impey into the break. ?I was dying a death out there,? he said, ?I've never raced in this heat. It's a different style of racing out here too ? you chug along all day while Italy it's more stop start.
?We will ride home from here and that will give me four hours training today. When I get back there's two days to go before Tirreno, it's not ideal but I'm going okay.?
Tomorrow's Race three is a 171km circuit out of Paarle, taking in the 800 metre climb of Du Toits Kloof Pass with 20km to go. Saturday is a rest day before Race 4 on Sunday.
Cape Argus Giro Del Capo day two: Results
1. Christopher Froome (GB) Barloworld in 3-31-37
Chris Froome tops the podium on the second day's racing
RELATED LINKS
Hunter takes first day at Giro del Capo
Cycling Weekly Rider Profiles
EXTERNAL LINK
Giro del Capo: www.girodelcapo.co.za
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1