Reynard Butler aims to kick-start season this weekend
“It’s always good to get a win under the belt because that boosts your confidence, and with the guys in good form we are positive about a good outcome.”
Defending champion, Reynard Butler, will be aiming to use the East Rand Classic road cycle race this weekend to kick-start his year after a somewhat disrupted start to the season.
The popular race, which covers 98km, and was formerly known as the Emperors Palace Classic, takes place in Kempton Park on Sunday, 28 April and offers an ideal opportunity for the sprint specialists to show their prowess. A year ago, Reynard, who rides in ProTouch cycling colours, pipped Ryan Harris and now-teammate Clint Hendricks in the perennial dash for the line, continuing a season which brought him six podium finishes in major races.
The early part of this year has not run as smoothly, but the 31-year-old Reynard said he was eager to get a win under the belt. “Personally it’s been a bit up and down, because I crashed out when racing in Gabon earlier in the year, and had to withdraw due to injuries,” he said.
“I wasn’t really in top form at the Takealot Tour of Good Hope or the Cape Town Cycle Tour and I have just got back from the race in Morocco (Tour du Maroc) where I had to pull out due to illness, so it’s been a rocky start for me,” he admitted. He did also point out that the entire ProTouch team aims to ride well. “The team has been doing really well and we will obviously be aiming for the top spot next week.”
Reynard acknowledged they would have to be on point with their tactics due to the fast nature of the course, but said that they were prepared for that. “There are one or two sections of the course where the wind can affect things, but most of the teams know what goes down on the day and it usually does come down to a bunch sprint,” he explained.
“It’s important to have a good lead-out in the closing stretch, to ensure you get your sprinter into the right position for the finish.”
