After a decade of near misses, Nolan Hoffman finally clinched the big one – the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cycle Tour.
“It’s a big relief to put this demon to rest because I’ve tried so long to win this race,” says Hoffman.
“I’ve been second twice, third, fifth, seventh and eighth, so it’s been a bit frustrating all these years.”
The 29-year-old sprinter carried the hopes of Team Abantu on his shoulders when he lined up at the start of the world’s largest timed cycle race in March.
“I’d just come back from the track world champs and my condition was good. For me there’s always a lot of pressure for the big races but this time I was more relaxed and it worked out pretty well.”
Hoffman says the team tactics on the day were to get him over the Suikerbossie climb with the least amount of energy spent.
“Chapman’s Peak was my biggest concern. If you get dropped there, your job is harder to get back before Suikerbossie and still get positioned up in front for the climb.
“We controlled the race going over Chapman’s Peak and that saved me a lot because it neutralised some of the attacks by the other riders.”
Knowing that Suikerbossie was where the decisive battle often happens, Hoffman did his best to stay with the climbers but dropped about 15 seconds off the first group.
“You can only afford to lose between 15 and 20 seconds there; if you lose more than that it’s race over.
“But I still had David Maree who stayed with me and chased like hell going down the descent. I never saw a small guy go so fast on a downhill!”
After winning 60 per cent of the races he entered last year, Hoffman has certainly carved his name in South Africa’s cycling history books.
But The Hoff, as he is affectionately known, is far from done.
“While the Argus is definitely one of the biggest results of my career, I still want to win the national elite road title too.”
The former U23 road champion is probably better known for his exploits on the track, having claimed numerous national titles.
In February, at the UCI Track World Cycling Championships in Colombia, Hoffman placed fifth in his goal event, the scratch race, after claiming silver in 2012.
Averaging 54km an hour, Hoffman says it is the fastest race he has ever done. “I can’t really remember much because it was flat-out the whole way.”
About 20 laps in, four riders broke away from the peloton and managed to take a lap, effectively ending any chance of a podium.
“Fifth is still a respectable result and it puts me back in with a chance of winning again. Now I have renewed confidence and can build on bettering the result.”
On his return to our shores, Hoffman’s first stop was the four-day Bestmed Tour de Boland.
“Coming from the track worlds, it was important to get some road competition in the legs again ahead of Argus.
“This year was a really good field and it puts the tour back up there again.”
Now based on the West Rand, the former Franschhoek native said riding the familiar roads had felt like coming home.
“Tour de Boland was perfect preparation but the stage finishes weren’t really sprinter friendly.”
Nevertheless, he still walked away with the green jersey, ultimately setting himself up as a serious contender for the one-day classic the following weekend.
“The green jersey was important for me because there were a lot of people looking out for me to do well. I’m from the Boland so it was nice to get it for the fans.”
Hoffman will be looking to repeat the feat at the UCI-graded Mzansi Tour in April.
