Marzaan Mellett won the East Side Crits on Sunday, 8 November, as Cycle Nation Enza Construction claimed the top two places in Gauteng.
Mellett led teammate Charné Scully across the line at Lordsview Industrial Park in Chloorkop. Lucy Young completed the podium after a three-rider sprint for victory.
East Side Crits victory decided in final sprint
The women raced in Category B alongside the veteran men, which added pace and positioning pressure to the criterium.
That mixed-field setting required the women to manage their own contest while responding to the rhythm of a broader race.
Mellett and Scully stayed in contention deep into the event before the decisive sprint settled the women’s result.
Mellett crossed the line first, with Scully taking second ahead of Young. The result gave Cycle Nation a strong collective return from the afternoon.
Mellett extends strong 2026 campaign
The win adds another result to Mellett’s impressive 2026 season across road, gravel and time trial racing.
She has established herself as one of Cycle Nation’s leading riders during a campaign built on national and continental performances.
Mellett won the South African Under-23 Individual Time Trial Championship earlier this season. She also won the African Continental Under-23 Road Championship in Kisumu, Kenya, in October.
Her East Side Crits success followed another recent criterium result at national level. She finished second behind teammate Lisa Bone at the South African National Criterium Championships in Mossel Bay.
Cycle Nation placed three riders in the first four at that event, underlining the team’s depth in domestic women’s racing.
Scully continues trial with another podium
Scully’s second place continued a productive trial period with Cycle Nation as the team assesses potential additions for its 2027 racing programme.
Her recent results include victory at the Summer Classic in October. She also earned two podium finishes at the East Side Classic on 1 November.
At Lordsview, Scully again showed she could race near the front and contest the final sprint in a competitive women’s field.
Bianca Botha also lined up for Cycle Nation at the event. Both Scully and Botha have been racing with the team on a trial basis.
Team management used the race as another opportunity to assess performance under competitive conditions before next season’s roster decisions.
Cycle Nation Team Manager Lincoln King said Mellett has had “an excellent season” and welcomed her continued results.
King also said Scully has been “very consistent” since joining on trial, with encouraging performances over recent weeks.
He added that the team valued the result, but also remained focused on rider development and teamwork before next season.
Cycle Nation will now look to carry that momentum toward Ride Joburg later in November. The race stands among the final major road events of the year.
East Side Crits women’s result
- 1. Marzaan Mellett – Cycle Nation Enza Construction
- 2. Charné Scully – Cycle Nation Enza Construction
- 3. Lucy Young – Tshenolo
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