SA Track Champs showdown attracts track cycling cream

Craig Dutton/Gameplan Media

The Hector Norris Park Cycling Track in Turffontein will play host to the 2015 South African National Track Championships from 7-11 April and the top names in track cycling are expected to be lining up on the Highveld with an eye on a national championship crown and the South African striped jersey at the end of the event.

Central Commissioner for track cycling in Gauteng and member of the organising committee, Angela Scullard, is hoping that the event draws the best in South Africa to Johannesburg and knows that with the best comes intense competition.

“We are expecting to get the best riders in the country at the national championships in two weeks,” Scullard said. “The likes of Nolan Hoffman and Morne van Niekerk as well as Maroesjka Matthee in the ladies and sprinters like Jean Smith will make the event hugely entertaining and will draw in the crowds due to the high level of competition.”

Cycling SA has allowed provinces, teams and clubs to enter for the team events like Team Sprint and Team Pursuit. At the SA Track Championships, riders will be able to qualify for points for major international competitions.

“The Hector Norris Track is a fast track and we are hoping to see some records broken this year. The last time we had the champs there was in 2007 and there were some records broken so if the conditions are right then we should see records tumble,” said Scullard.

“Hosting the event in Johannesburg does bring with it the difference in conditions compared to the rest of the country. The conditions will play a role for a number of the riders that are coming to the Highveld from the coast.”