While South Africans were celebrating the epic Springbok come-back win yesterday, SA Olympic cyclist Alan Hatherly, clinched the first world title of his career, at theUCI MTB cross-country World Championships, that took place in Pal Arinsal in Andorra on Sunday. The 28-year-old South African beat Victor Koretzky (France) and reigning champion Tom Pidcock (Great Britain), taking the title with an impressive 22-second gap to Koretzky. Pidcock had to settle for bronze at 39 seconds off the pace.
Following a slow start and gradual fightback from Pidcock over the opening laps of the race, Hatherly was quick take the decisive move of the race, shortly after the midpoint, forcing Koretzky with him at the front.The two then edged away at the front to build a race-winning gap. Pidcock, the reigning champion chased the leaders down and looked to be gaining ground, but his effort turned out to be not enough. The rainbow jersey was left in the hands of Hatherly and Koretzky, who battled it out over the closing metres of the race.
Koretzky took the lead on the longest climb on the course, accelerating away on the steepest gradients, but was unable to shake off Hatherly, who took the opportunity to break his lead and take honours and with it the coveted rainbow jersey.
“I can’t describe this performance in words yet. I’m very emotional,” Hatherly commented after the race, “I had good legs, but to win here… is a dream come true. I also put a lot of pressure on myself. I knew I had a good chance. I’m so happy for myself, my team and my home country. The rainbow colours will now be on my sleeves forever. I can’t wait to race in the rainbow jersey.
The World Championships programme was altered on the final day of competition with a heavy thunderstorm forecast for Sunday afternoon. All races were shortened and brought forward with the men racing six laps of a hilly, high-altitude course, rather than the planned seven, and the women five rather than six.
The Netherlands’ Puck Pieterse took top honours and a deserved rainbow jersey in the elite women’s race, with fellow countryman Anne Terpstra claiming second, 59 seconds back. Italy’s Martina Berta came in third.