Track Cycling SA’s objective is to qualify riders for the 2012 World Championships and ultimately the Olympic Games. To this end the Track Commission has very strict selection criteria in place to ensure that riders are able to be competitive at these events and rake in much-needed World Champs and Olympic qualifying points.
Bernard Esterhuizen and Nolan Hoffman make up the team for the 1st World Cup event in Astana with the wily Dave Street the team manager. 19-year old 2010 Junior Time Trial Champion Esterhuizen, who hails from Durban but has been based in Switzerland for the past year, will compete in the Sprint and Keirin events while Johannesburg-based Hoffman, who won the 106km Amashova Durban Cycle Classic at the weekend, will participate in the scratch race.
Esterhuizen has come on in leaps and bounds over the past year, with a very credible ride in his first Elite World Championships in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands in March this year. He did an exceptional qualifying ride in the sprint event, making the top 24 cut out of a field in excess of 50 riders. His reward however, was a first round ride against multiple British Olympic Champion, Sir Chris Hoy, giving a good account of himself in that ride and benefiting tremendously from the experience. Esterhuizen had an exceptional National Track Championships, winning no less than four of the titles on offer. His build up to the World Cup season has been sound with solid performances on the international circuit, a notable result being his victory over reigning Sprint World Champion Gregory Bauge in the Keirin in a French international meeting earlier this year. Given Esterhuizen’s blistering speed and current form, the national sprint record of 10.3 seconds is definitely under threat.
After dominating all the endurance events at the National Track Championships this year, Tasol team rider Hoffman has been eagerly awaiting the start of the World Cup season. He has been in scintillating form all winter with notable victories on the road, culminating in him capturing the All Africa Games Road title in Maputo in September. The scratch race is a stepping-stone for his possible qualification for the Olympic Omnium event.
Great things are expected from these 2 riders, but back home the rest of the riders are keen to put their names into the hat by producing the goods at upcoming trials to be help prior to the next three World Cups.
Men:
Bernard Esterhuizen
Nolan Hoffman
Team Manager: Dave Street
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