Electrifying Finish for Hoffman at Track World Champs (AUS)

[Matt]

South African Sprint sensation Nolan Hoffman delivered the performance of his life when he clinched a silver medal in the 15km scratch race at the 2012 UCI Track World Champs opening evening in Melbourne (AUS) on Wednesday 4th April.

 

With a star-studded 21-man field consisting of the world’s best riders, the race was destined to be a hard one with no quarter asked or given. The 26-year-old from Franschhoek, currently residing in Johannesburg, rode a well-controlled race and he pulled out the extra reserves in the end to close down the gap on an escaping group.

 

Austrian Andreas Muller broke with six laps left of the 60 to open a third of a lap lead. Czech rider Martin Blaha, Italian Elia Viviani and Briton Ben Swift chased down Mueller to catch him with less than two laps left before the British rider kicked to open a lead in the final back straight.

 

Hoffman, around ten lengths behind Swift at the bell lap, showed his immense talent and undoubted class when he turned the burners on the second last corner passing five riders, with little time to spare.

 

Around the last bend it was clear that a podium finish was within reach and he put in an almighty effort to try and catch Swift, but this was not to be. Hoffman’s enormous final lunge saw him miss out on the Gold medal by a mere half a wheel – it was an ecstatic Hoffman who crossed the line in 2nd position!

 

Swift’s win was the first British gold medal for the event since it was introduced at the 2002 World Championships, while it was South Africa’s first medal in the men’s scratch event.

 

“I knew somebody was going to attack in the finish, and just tried to play it cool and make other people chase. It’s definitely the hardest I’ve ever had to work for a track cycling race,” Swift said.

 

Hoffman was surprised by his efforts at his first elite world championships on the track. “I’ve been to all the world cups and I’ve struggled a bit and I always thought the world champs is going to be hard,” Hoffman said.

 

Click here to view the race video: 15km Scratch UCI Track Cycling World Champs: http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/video/2219252478

 

Click here to view the article

[rider1]

A brilliant effort and great result.