Early Sunday morning on a 97km completely closed route 12,000 cyclists took to the city streets of Johannesburg, South Africa, with SA reigning national road champion and WorldTour pro Ryan Gibbons (LIDL-TREK) winning Ride Joburg in a dramatic sprint finish.

Gibbons, 30, nipped former winner Reinardt Janse van Rensburg in a nail-biting sprint from the last corner to the finish line. U23 rider Jaedon Terlouw secured third place, with all three finishing in 2:10:30.

“This race is always special, but winning here at home is a dream come true,” Gibbons commented afterwards.“Competing against Reinardt pushed me to my limits, and I’m thrilled with the result.”

After 2:46:44 in the women’s race, S’Annara Grove (DOLTCINI O’SHEA) also came out on top. The 30 year-old used her powerful kick to defeated 2022 champion Vera Looser and Hayley Preen in a photo finish to claim victory.

“It’s an amazing experience to race on closed roads and see the city in this way,” said Grove. “The support from the crowd and the city made today unforgettable.”

Complete Ride Joburg results HERE

Photo Credit: Instagram/ride_joburg

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