Medscheme sprinter Arran Brown rewrote the history books this morning when he became the first cyclist to win the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge and Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour in the same year.

Brown made it look easy when he came off the wheel of his team captain, Malcolm Lange, to win the Cycle Challenge in front of a huge crowd at the Waterfall Country Estate in Midrand. Lange held on for second with MTN-Energade speedster Christoff van Heerden snatching a podium spot for his team in third place.

Medscheme had the racing all their own way today with Hanco Kachelhoffer going away in the main escape group and claiming all the King of the Mountain primes as well as sprint hot spots.

Kachelhoffer very nearly rode to victory when he shot out of the escape group on the final climb. He came to within 70 metres from the line before he was overtaken by his teammate.

Kachelhoffer went away after only 15km with Jacques Janse van Rensburg (DCM Chrome), Bradley Potgieter (MTN-Energade), Gawie Maree (Neotel) and Travis Allen (House of Paint). The built up a lead exceeding 2 minutes and 30 seconds with 30km to go.

It was then that the chase started in earnest with Konica Minolta, Toyota SuperCycling and Neotel putting the hammer down in the peloton. Maree wasn’t feeling good – he picked up a stomach bug the day before – and so Neotel didn’t feel confident of his chances in the break-away.

Van Rensburg made the first move coming into the finish and Kachelhoffer jumped off his wheel and stretched out a sizeable lead, only to be hauled in agonizingly close to the finish line.

Lange and his team were in a commanding position throughout the race. With Kachelhoffer in the move, they didn’t have to chase and capitalized when it counted to take first and second spot across the line.

“We were hoping for Hanco to stay away and win. He had done all the work and was the best sprinter in the breakaway,” said Lange, who won the title last year. “But because Neotel didn't have Nolan (Hoffman) in the breakaway they wouldn't contribute up front and the speed dropped in the last 10km.

Brown applauded his team’s tactics. "We won because we did our homework. We road up and down the finish last week and knew when to wait and when to go. The technical nature of the sprint suited me because I am a power sprinter. Malcolm has taught me a lot about how to win," said the 24 year old victor from Greenside.

The women's race served up a surprise winner in Toyota SuperCycling rider Joanna van de Winkel. Van de Winkel powered away from her escape companions, Ann-Li Pretorius (Nashua Telecoms) and Lelanie Lourens (MTN –Energade), on the final climb.

The 27-year-old Van de Winkel is an electrical engineer and was on a three-month trial ride with Toyota SuperCycling – without pay. “I still have a full time job, which I intend continuing regardless of whether I now receive a full contract next year,” she assured.

There is little doubt that she will indeed now be full-time employed by Toyota SuperCycling and get paid to ride her bike for the first time in her life.

“I’m a lousy sprinter but a good climber, so I had to go early on the last hill.  I made my move and went for it. It hurt like hell but I think I could get used to this winning thing," she smiled.

Pretorius came home second with Lourens finishing third.

Provisional results:
Elite men
1. Arran Brown (Medscheme) 2:14:25;
2. Malcolm Lange (Medscheme) same time;
3. Christoff van Heerden (MTN-Energade) same time

Elite women
1. Joanna van Winkel (Toyota SuperCycling) 2:47:07;
2. Ann-Li Pretorius (Nashua) +3 sec;
3. Lelanie Lourens (MTN-Energade) +5 sec.

For more information on the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge visit www.cyclechallenge.co.za