Cherise Taylor Is Back To Her Winning Ways

Race Report : Advendurance Media

She proved that yesterday when she won the MTN Zoo Lake Criterium for women. Lynnette Burger (Toyota Cyclelab) was 2nd and Yolandi du Toit (Konica-Minolta) 3rd.

It is the first time since February that Taylor has won a race in South Africa. Up until August this year has been one of frustration for her. No matter what she tried, her body kept rebelling making her life on a bicycle an arduous task.

At first it was thought that she might have had a recurrence of glandular fever, but after some treatment nothing changed.

“I had a constant burning sensation in my legs no matter how hard I rode and I was sick every other week.”

The doctor who treated her then realized that it her tonsils that were the culprits and that they need to be removed.

Taylor who has only started her “comeback” a few weeks ago said she really needed to win.

“I battle to remember when last I had won a race. I think it might have been the Ride for Sight in February,” said the young South Africa’s Olympian.

“Because the victory was so important to me I really made sure that I did everything in the built up to the race – eat, sleep, and train.”

As to what happened during the race Taylor said it was really hard because they only raced for 30 minutes.

“We basically raced flat-out  from the moment go, with the wind getting ever stronger testing us all the time. When we got to the last corner about 50 meters from the finish I thought for a brief moment that I have lost the race.

“Yolandi (Du Toit) surprised us all by taking the sprint long. She was first through the corner followed by Ashleigh (Moolman) and Lynette (Burger).

“Luckily for me it seemed that I timed my sprint to perfection and I managed to win. It was an amazing experience to be the first rider across the finish line.”

Photo credits: Zoon Cronje