Nolan Hoffman says winning The Herald Continental Cycle Tour had kept him on track to defend his title at the Cape Town Cycle Tour on March 10.
The DNS Sports sprinter edged Ryan Harris by a split second to bag yet another 106km Herald Continental Cycle Tour victory at Pollok Beach in Summerstrand on Sunday.
It took officials a couple of minutes to decide the winner but they eventually gave it to Hoffman in a time of two hours, 32 minutes and 14 second.
Hoffman said Sunday’s performance has put him in good standing for Cape Town.
“The Herald was definitely a good practice rum for the upcoming races,” said the Captonian.
“The Cape Town Cycle Tour is the next big race for the professionals, but before that race there is a Tour of Good Hope, which starts on March, 4.
“Its like a warm up race for the Cape Town Cycle Tour, so that will be the next competition on our calendar.”
The 32-year-old cyclist said he enjoyed coming to The Herald Continental Cycle Tour because it is a well-balanced race. “There is everything in this race. There are down hills, flats, short and long climbs, but not mountain passes. That makes it a nice test for the sprinters.
“ I always say for me the way I go in the Herald is always an indication of how I am going to be in a weeks time and it’s a positive sensation. I am silently positive this time around.”
Hoffman who raced under team BCX in 2018, out-sprinted Sam Gaze and Reynard Butler to win his third title in a time of 2.37.30 at the Cape Town race last year.