Back-to-back Tour Down Under champion Daryl Impey has continued his blistering form at the South African Championships, claiming his eighth individual time trial title in convincing style today in Pretoria.
Impey, who holds the record for the most national time trial victories, dominated the 52km course, starting fast to hold a 41-second lead at the first intermediate check point before increasing his strangehold to over one-minute 11seconds to second placed Stefan De Bod (Dimension Data) by the finish line.
Daryl Impey – 8-time South African Time Trial champion:
“I’m really happy to pull off number eight. Every year I have more pressure coming here and it is obvious that they want to be the first one to ‘dethrone’ me.
“I rode probably one of my best time trials and definitely some of my best numbers ever. I wasn’t sure coming into this year’s event as I have done less time trial work than before.
“I started really well but didn’t really fade, so I was happy that my condition for Australia hasn’t gone too far and hopefully I can repeat it again on Sunday. I am glad today showed who is the strongest regardless of the result on Sunday.”
South African Time Trial Championship – Results:
1. Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-SCOTT) 57:46:20
2. Stefan de Bod (Dimension Data) +1:11:56
3. Louis Meintjes (Dimension Data) +4:07:89
