Siyavuya Mzantsi |and Nicolette Dirk
Cycle Tour first-time winner Clint Hendricks has dedicated his victory to his family and teammates for rallying behind him all the way to the finish line in yesterday’s race.
The 24-year-old from Paarl finished the 109km race across the Peninsula in 2hr 35min 52sec. Hendricks outsprinted two-time defending champion Nolan Hoffman, who came third, and the second-placed Jayde Julius.
Thousands of supporters lined the route as early as 4am to cheer on the riders as they peddled across the Peninsula. No injuries were reported.
Carla van Aart-Meyer, who came out to support her husband Dirk, said: “I was surprised at how many people are here today, but the atmosphere is great.”
In the women’s race, An-li Kachelhoffer continued her dream streak by defeating the defending champion, Lynette Burger, and the third-placed Vera Adrian. She finished in 2:51:26.
Hendricks, who has been cycling for nine years, said: |“It was a very hard race. The beginning was a bit slow with the wind. We had team Telkom controlling it.
“Towards the end the mountain bikers started putting the hammer down.”
He said he gave the race everything he had and it “worked out perfectly”.
“It’s lot of training, sprinting leading up to this. My team preparation is the most important thing.
“The boys believed in me 100 percent from the get-go. Since all the second and the third places, they always said |I can win it.
“So that was always there from the team and I’m so happy I could repay them,” |he said.
Kachelhoffer said it was a “crazy ride”, but she managed to get to the front and keep it together.
She said the race became tricky when a group of male riders caught up with them.
“I’ve been looking forward to this race and I’m over the moon to be on the top step of the podium,” she said.
Cape Argus editor Gasant Abarder said: “As a co-sponsor we are very happy and also it’s an important day for the Cape Argus.”