Local is lekker for Cherise
CYCLE TOUR: NO JOY FOR HOFFMAN
South Africa’s Cherise Willeit claimed the women’s Cape Town Cycle Tour title after a tough day in the saddle in the Mother City on Sunday. The expectant winds were slightly calmer but the conditions were enough to hand the advantage to the mountain bikers. Try as they might, they couldn’t shake those more at home on the flats during what turned out to be a key section at Hout Bay.
Willeit then played a crucial role on the Suikerbossie climb in bringing the chasing pack back into the mix following an attack by Tiffany Keep.
As the expectant crowd gathered around the finishing line, it was anyone’s race to win with Elinore Barker, Candice Lill, Samantha Sanders, Keep, Carla Oberholzer and Jo van der Winkel all jostling for position.
Willeit was able to capitalise on earlier work and the support of her team to claim her fourth victory after a sprint finish.
“It was a really tough day out there today. I knew from the outset that the mountain bikers would make it difficult for us,” she said shortly after the race.
Willeit was quick to praise her team-mates for keeping their composure in setting a good pace for her to maintain her challenge.
“The wind put us in the gutter quite a bit and with the bunch getting back together with just 2km to go it was quite a finish.
She admitted to being a little unsure of what to expect of the sprint finish with a little less of that kind of form under her belt.
“I’m over the moon. I had the best bike today and yes, just so happy with the win.”
New Zealand mountain biker Sam Gaze secured a somewhat comfortable win after a sprint to the line.
Gaze, last year’s runner-up, was part of a nine-man bunch but cruised to a two-bike length win on a day that suited the mountain bikers with gusty, strong winds lining the route.
Defending champion Nolan Hoffman was not part of the group despite being flanked by his Dimension Data team-mates.