It’s easy as 1,2,3 for Cape’s riders
Capetonians take top spots in the men’s race
SOUTH African cyclists reigned supreme at the 39th annual Cape Town Cycle Tour, winning the men’s and women’s elite races, with all Top 3 positions going to Cape Town men. Local cyclist Clint Hendricks and An-Li Kachelhoffer from Pretoria were crowned winners of the world’s largest timed cycle race.
Riding for TeamCover, Hendricks, originally from Paarl, sprinted past Dimension Data Continental’s Jayde Julius and two-time defending champion Nolan Hoffman in the last 100m.
Hendricks said he was certain the Dimension Data team would take the race.
“The race only really started as we were heading down Chappies.
“But I was nervous as the DiData guys were a strong team of 12 riders, constantly attacking us left, right and centre.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team,” he said.
“I was extremely happy when I pulled past Nolan Hoffman, I feel as if I was constantly in his shadow so this win really means a lot to me.”
Second-placed Julius expressed disappointment with his placing, after having raced furiously alongside Hendricks.
Cape Town Cycle Tour director David Bellairs was ecstatic with what he called “a dream win” as he posed with an all-Capetonian elite men’s podium.
“The top European mountain bikers were out to show the roadies what was happening, but to have three Cape Town boys take the podium, I couldn’t wish for anything better for the Cape Town Cycle Tour,” he said.
Hendricks said the foreign competitors had jibed at the local riders at the start, saying locals would not be able to win the race.
Silver SA National champion, 29-year-old Kachelhoffer riding for team Pretoria Box, sprinted across the finish line before Team Demacon’s Lynette Burger and 23-year-old Vera Adrian from Namib- ia to win the women’s race.
Kachelhoffer said she was “ecstatic and over the moon” at being crowned elite women’s champion.
Celebrity chef Jan Braai, who aimed to cross the finish line in under three hours, was elated, saying conditions were perfect. He achieved his goal, finishing in 2:49. “I don’t know if I will ever do that again,” he said.
The cycle tour did not take place without incident, however, with the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust confirming that 20 people were admitted to hospital, with five cases considered serious.
One of them involved a cyclist, suspected of having a heart attack on Suikerbossie, who had been admitted to an intensive care unit at a local hospital.
Cape Argus editor Gasant Abarder compared the tour to an old vinyl record which “keeps getting better”. “It can’t possibly get even better, but I’m surprised that each year it does. We are grateful to the people of Cape Town for offering up the day to cyclists.”