Hoffman ready for the challenge

“A win is always good for an athletes’s confidence, it just make me feel like I’m unstoppable,” Hoffman said on Friday.

Hoffman continued his blazing form from last year to claim his third Herald Cycle Tour victory last weekend in Port Elizabeth.

He capped the last season by clinching the Engen Cycle Challenge, winning all three races in the series.

“Going into the race on Sunday, it’s definitely a confidence booster and I’m really forward to it.

“The race is really difficult to call, but I will be happy to compete for the win and fight it out for the jersey.”

Hoffman said his performance on Sunday will help him gauge his fitness ahead of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, which take place from February 26 to March 2 in the Cali Velodrome, Colombia.

“I’m also trying to test where my condition is at this moment.

“Later this month, I have the world champs where I really hope to do well.

“This race gives me an opportunity to check what areas I still need to work on before then, but it will also be something incredible if I win on Sunday.”

The Team Abantu rider, however, faces a stiff challenge from defending champion Jay Thomson, as well as South Africa’s first cyclist to don the yellow jersey during the Tour de France, Daryl Impey, who warmed up by defending his national time trial title on Thursday.

“I’ve raced these guys before, but it will be interesting to see how I match up against them,” Hoffman said.

“It’s going to be difficult to match these guys, but I really hope to come in with my big match temperament.

“I will definitely be up for the battle and I’m not scared at the moment.”

The men’s road race, which starts and finishes in Westville, also includes Herman Fouche, Dylan Girdlestone, Jacques Janse van Rensburg and Jaco Venter in the star-studded starting line-up.

In the women’s race, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio will be hoping to continue her winning streak, after successfully defending her time trial title on Thursday.

Moolman-Pasio, who is on course for double back-to-back wins at the SA Road champs, faces a tough challenge on Sunday, where she takes on 16 riders along a tough circuit in Westville.

– Sapa