Charné Scully claimed two East Side Classic podium finishes as Cycle Nation’s women impressed at Carnival City in Brakpan, Gauteng.
The inaugural event took place on Sunday, 1 November, and combined a 103-kilometre road race with a criterium. Cycle Nation fielded Scully, Carmen Luckemeyer and Bianca Botha across both competitions.
Scully finished third in the Elite Women’s category in the road race. She then repeated that result in the criterium, giving Cycle Nation a clear highlight from the Brakpan race day.
The performance carried extra importance for the team. Scully and Botha are racing on a trial basis while Cycle Nation assesses possible additions for its 2027 roster.
East Side Classic road race brings first Scully podium
Lucy Young and newly crowned African Continental Road Champion Magda Nieuwoudt set the pace in the women’s 103-kilometre road race. Both riders finished in 2:37:09, with Young awarded the victory.
Scully led the Cycle Nation results on the road. She crossed the line in 2:44:50, placing fourth among all women and third in the Elite category.
Luckemeyer finished seventh overall and fourth among Elite women in 2:44:56. Botha completed Cycle Nation’s road race showing in 10th overall.
Botha also placed second in the Under-23 category. She recorded a time of 2:46:36, giving the team another strong category result.
Scully arrived in Brakpan after winning the Summer Classic one week earlier. In that race, she made the decisive selection after crosswinds split the peloton.
Luckemeyer also brought recent form into the East Side Classic. She had finished third at the Summer Classic, continuing a consistent run in domestic road racing.
Cycle Nation packs the criterium top five
The criterium gave the riders another chance to race for honours later in the programme. Nieuwoudt reversed the road race result and took victory ahead of Young.
Nieuwoudt completed the criterium in 23:41. Young finished four seconds later in 23:45.
Scully secured third place in 25:13, completing her second Elite podium of the day. Botha followed in fourth place in 25:20.
Luckemeyer placed fifth in 26:03. That result put all three Cycle Nation riders inside the top five in the criterium.
The outcome gave Cycle Nation three of the first five positions in the Elite Women’s criterium. It also showed how quickly the group worked together under race conditions.
Trial riders strengthen 2027 roster case
The East Side Classic gave Cycle Nation a useful test of Scully and Botha alongside Luckemeyer. Luckemeyer has been part of the team’s 2026 racing programme.
Both prospective recruits produced results that supported their bids for further consideration. Cycle Nation is already looking ahead to its 2027 season planning.
Team Manager Lincoln King said the early signs had encouraged the team. He said Cycle Nation had been giving Scully and Botha “an opportunity” while assessing options for next season.
King added that both riders had made “a very positive impression” during the process.
He pointed to Scully’s ability to compete at the front of races. He also noted Botha’s encouraging qualities as a young rider.
King said the most pleasing aspect was how quickly both riders settled into the group. Their performances alongside Luckemeyer gave Cycle Nation a strong return from the inaugural East Side Classic.
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