Nolan Hoffman claims Tour of Good Hope Stage 1 victory for second successive year

Ruimsig-based cyclist, Nolan Hoffman, managed to claim victory in Stage 1 of the Tour of Good Hope for the second consecutive year on Monday, 4 March.

South Africa’s premier road tour got under way in inclement weather near Paarl in the Cape Winelands, but that did not stop the elite category going out with guns blazing on the short 58,5km first stage. Riding for Team Enza after securing a sponsorship with Enza Construction, Hoffman edged his rivals in the final dash for the line, finishing in 1:18:18.

Hoffman, who grew up in the region but now lives in Ruimsig, said they knew the pace “would be hot from the start”. He praised his team for their work in closing the gap on Cycle Power’s Orion Craig, who broke away about halfway through the stage, and said they could not have asked for a better result.

“With about three kilometres to go, Gustav Basson attacked and my teammate Steven van Heerden had to chase really hard to bring him back,” said Hoffman. “We caught him just before the last kilometre and it was a bit of a mess as all the teams were trying to bring their sprinters through to the front.”

Recounting the final dash for the line, Nolan admitted it wasn’t easy. “I then got on the wheel of a TEG rider and was able to time it perfectly in the end. It was not easy because it drags up a bit in the last kilometre and then there is a slight downhill in the 200m towards the finish. I knew I had to get the sprint going just before the crest and I managed to get the perfect jump on Ryan. From there I knew I could do enough to take it.”

Hoffman did however admit that it was tough going chasing down Craig, but with just under a sixth of the race to go, they succeeded. “It was well within the last 10km that we managed to close him down and ultimately I must pay tribute to my teammates for the stage win.”