Christa Riffel finished third for CANYON//SRAM Racing in yesterday’s Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge in Johannesburg, South Africa. The UCI 1.1 race was won solo by Ashleigh Moolman (Bia Cycling mixed African Team) with Vita Heine (HPU) and Riffel battling in the sprint for second and third. 

After the peloton’s apprehensive start to the race, CANYON//SRAM Racing took an aggressive role. “We had the idea to split the bunch in the early crosswind section but in the end the winds weren’t strong enough,” said Riffel. 

“Elena (Cecchini) and Trixi (Worrack) were helping control the front and there were several attacks as we hit the small climbs on the course,” Riffel went on. 

“After a chat with Trixi, I attacked just before the final steep climb, and it was the same moment that Ashleigh also attacked. I couldn’t go with her speed but I still created a gap on the rest of the peloton. In the end there were three of us chasing Ashleigh on the climb, and then after the climb it was just Vita and I who were going to sprint for the podium places.”

“I’m pleased with how our team raced and to get a podium is nice. I’m now going to continue the pre-season and enjoy a week’s training here in South Africa with some of my teammates and our director sportif Barry Austin.”

CANYON//SRAM Racing will hold their first team meeting ahead of the 2018 season from 29 November to 5 December in Schweinfurt and Koblenz, Germany. For any media interested to attend the camp, interview the team’s full roster, or gain content of the team’s 2018 new equipment and design, please contact Beth Duryea, duryea@wmncycling.com for details.