Newton hitting form

OLDHAM-based cycling ace Chris Newton showed he is hitting form in time for the start of the season with a series of good performances in the Boland Tour four-day stage race in South Africa.

Olympic bronze medallist and newly-crowned World Track Cup Series points race champion Newton proved he is equally adept on the road with consistent displays which helped him finish 13th overall in a tough field of 147 riders.

Newton, leading the Rapha Condor squad as they tackle two South African races, led by example with third spot in the opening stage which was a 143-mile stage from Paarl to Taalmonument.

The following day he was 29th in the 77-mile race around Wellington, 1-37 behind the winner to leave him sixth overall.

Stage three saw Newton battle to fourth, just seven seconds behind the stage winner in a sprint finish, which lifted him to fifth overall after the 77-mile stage around Perdeberg, while in the fourth and final stage he was 21st, 1-11 off the pace which dropped him to 13th overall.

But Newton was pleased with his work over the four days, with team-mate and GB international Tom Southam finishing third overall.

The team now move on to the Giro del Capo this week where Rapha Condor are one of 13 international teams and 17 South African teams tackling the prestigious five-day event.
The prize fund has been increased for the event from recent years, with the event now split into a series of individual races rather than a stage race.

Today’s 110-kilometre event is on roads around Wellington, while tomorrow it is a 150-kilometre race around Durbanville.

A big 160-kilometre race is on Friday around Paarl. After a rest day on Saturday, the final race on Sunday is a 110-kilometre race starting and finishing in Cape Town.