Overtaking on Climbs for the First Time and a 31-Minute PB
With Elevate 1-1 coaching, Michelle smashed her Cape Town Cycle Tour PB by 31 minutes - finishing 8th in her age group and 31st overall out of 3,200 women.
- 236 watts – the second-highest female FTP score at Njinga
- 3.7 w/kg, among the top 10 female scores at Njinga
- Finished 8th for her age group at Cape Cycle Tour
- Elevate
The Challenge - The Cape Town Cycle Tour
Michelle first approached Njinga while preparing to be Head Ride Captain for Hotchilee at the Cape Rouleur, a demanding four-day stage race in South Africa. But Head Coach Togo saw an even bigger goal to strive for: the Cape Town Cycle Tour – 109km of racing with 1,220m of climbing.
“ I’d worked with other coaches before, but never had anyone who really understood how to get the best out of me."
The Njinga Difference
Togo designed a tailored plan to unlock Michelle’s strength as a power athlete. Some days she smashed her targets; other days were tougher. But whatever the session, Togo provided the structure, belief, and encouragement to keep her progressing.
"He intuitively knew the physiological changes I needed to make to get stronger – completely different to every coach I’d had before."
The Results
On race day, Michelle executed perfectly. Riding in a huge peloton of 300+ riders, she maintained speeds of around 37-40 km/hr.
- Cape Town Cycle Tour finish: 3h07 at 35 km/h, smashing her PB by 31 minutes
- Age group ranking: 8th
- Overall women’s result: 31st out of 3,200 participants
Most importantly, she finishing with confidence and strength.
"For the first time in my life I was overtaking fellow cyclists on the climbs. It felt comfortable, manageable – and I was in great form."
What’s Next
Michelle continues to train smart with Njinga, building on her achievements and leading as Head Ride Captain for HotChillee. With the right coaching structure, she’s discovered how far she can push herself - and just how much she can surprise herself along the way.
"Togo and Njinga, you ROCK!"