South African Cyclists Win Cape Argus with Bittersweet Joy

It was a bitter-sweet win for South African cyclists Nolan Hoffman and Cherise Stander today at the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Momentum Cycle Tour (phew, that’s a mouthful!).

The male and female winners of the famous 109-kilometre race both had someone special in their hearts who couldn’t be there to witness and share in their victory.

“I wish I could celebrate the win with my dad today, this one is for you my man!” Nolan wrote on Facebook. “Gone but not forgotten! #Argus2014”

And Cherise is the widow of talented cyclist Burry Stander who was tragically killed by a taxi-bus whilst training last year.

Just days before today’s race, Cherise tweeted a link to Puff Daddy’s “I’ll be Missing You” hit, and wrote that she was “cycling with Burry’s music collection- prob the closest to him I’ll get to feel. Quite fitting song today In his collection”.

There was a lot of joy too for the winners of this, the world’s largest timed cycle race.

It was an incredible win for 28-year-old Norman, who hails from Franschoek and cycles for Team Abantu. He has been dedicated to winning this race for a decade. Twice he has been runner-up, and today he achieved his dream.

He finished in 2 hours 39 minutes and 31 seconds, which is slightly slower than last year, but experts put this down to the extremely strong winds that the 35,000 cyclists had to contend with today at the 36th annual race.

Norman said how incredible and special it was for him to have won a big race like this, and at home. He told local journalists “I’m from Cape Town. To have won it,  it’s something for the people. They have always supported me and it’s sort of a ‘yes moment’, silent celebrations and I’m really over the moon with it.”

Cherise attributed this, her second win in her 15th year of participating, as due to her “amazing support structure” with a family who have supported her since she was only nine.

Congratulations to everyone who participated today!