On Saturday, 23 November, 3 100 cyclists will gather in Swellendam for the annual 12-rider team time trial through the Overberg and Breede River regions. The Old Mutual Wealth Double Century is many things to many riders. From a 202 kilometre social ride for the early starters, to a fierce race amongst the top Open, Women’s, and Mixed category teams. Then there is the battle for bragging rights, which should be as competitive as ever in the 32nd edition.
In the absence of the defending champions, DMS & Co, the favourites for 2024 include the other two podium finishers, as well as some highly fancied new squads. Though the vast majority of the riders are familiar with the race, the shake-up in teams always produces some interesting dynamics. “I think RH77 – Factory, Rouleur Tritans, and 3PO BOYS are probably the ones to watch for us,” RDXVermarc’s Reece McDonald hazarded.
With the teams starting at pre-determined intervals, depending on their seedings, the relative speeds of each outfit only becomes clear at the first time check,112 kilometres in. “We will ride to our strengths and build tactics around this,” McDonald stated. “You can’t win the race in the first 60km, but you can definitely lose it by blowing your team up.”
World Tour superstar, Jasper Stuyven returns for LPC and gives the squad an edge in the battle for bragging rights against the other Atlantic Seaboard based teams. Photo by Volume Photography / Tobias Ginsberg.
Among the powerhouses on the RDXVermarc team is the Namibian ultra-endurance specialist Drikus Coetzee, and Christiaan Janse Van Rensburg. The likely rivals identified by McDonald feature a triathlete dominated Rouleur Tritans squad, assembled by Gareth Krisch. Krisch will call upon the time trialling abilities of Travis Johnston, Ewert Kleyhhans, and Mark Walraven. In 2023 the Rouleur Tritans placed second.
RH77 – Factory have a mix of youth and experience, including some European fire power. Austrian, Felix Ritzinger – who rides for the Felt Felbermayr continental team – is among the standouts alongside Rene Haselbacher Senior, Johnny Hoogerland, and David George. Rene Haselbacher Junior will be making his Old Mutual Wealth Double Century debut, at the age of 19 alongside his father and his father’s celebrated friends.
The 3PO BOYS will also be a force to be reckoned with. Kent Main, Chris Jooste, and Keanan Roodt return from the DMS & Co team, and are joined by Luuk van den Heuvel, Jono Botha, Rohan du Plooy, Anton Fatti, Duncan Luke, Julius Moerder, Daniel Stephen, and Ryan Willoughby.
The Paceline women start the race as defending champions and favourites in the Women’s competition. Photo by Chris Hitchcock.
The mixed category pre-race favourites came up 6 seconds short of upsetting the 2024 top ranked team last time out. In 2023 Private Client Holdings earned a Charles Milner Medal, for finishing with 12 riders, and were the third fastest team on the day. Hayley Preen’s squad is largely drawn from the University of Cape Town’s cycling team, but it has a couple of star additions. Alice Towers races for Canyon SRAM at World Tour level and her older brother Lucas Towers represents Caja Rural – Alea. The real star of the team is UAE Emirates highly touted talent Finn Fisher-Black.
“Our team is potentially even stronger than last year, with the addition of a World Tour weapon,” Rogan Smart smiled. “We’re hoping to go very fast again! Finn [Fisher-Black] definitely isn’t going to be slowing us down.”
Fisher-Black is not the only current World Tour professional on the start list. LPC have Belgian superstar Jasper Stuyven among their ranks for the second year in a row. The La Perla Classic team were fifth in 2023, losing out to the East City Cycles squad, who finished fourth. This year ECC have added the Kings of Atlantic Seaboard moniker to their team name.
Private Client Holdings placed third overall last year and won the Mixed category, this year they have the aid of Finn Fisher-Black as well as Alice and Lucas Towers to call upon. Photo by Barbara Cole.
“As defending champions of the unofficial official race within the race – the battle to reign supreme as Kings Of The Atlantic Seaboard – it’s important to manage our overall GC aspirations alongside (some would argue) the more important goals of retaining the KotAS crown,” ECC Kings of the Atlantic Seaboard rider Oliver Munnik laughed. Along with LPC, the ECC Kings of the Atlantic Seaboard will have to see off the Mother City Amateur Bicycle Club and Pure Savage teams.
To follow the racing, social, and social racing banter from the 2024 Old Mutual Wealth Double Century cycling fans can like the Old Mutual Wealth Double Century Facebook page or follow @oldmutualwealthdc on Instagram. For more information on the race visit www.doublecentury.co.za.
The 202km route is filled with scenic highlights, including the magnificent Tradouw Pass. Photo by Chris Hitchcock.
