Staminade Powered Nolan Hoffmann wraps up Msansi Tour with a Big Win!
Some great news for the Tasol-GT cycling team - fueled by Staminade
Athletes, Nolan Hoffmann and David Maree both secured wins for the on the final stage of the inaugural Mzansi Tour.
Hoffmann won the "Dash for Cash" Stage 5b while David Maree walked away with the HOLLARD King of the Mountain jersey for the best climber in the week long tour.
The team was labelled the most impressive all round team of the competition fighting for survival. Hoffmann, Maree and the team account were massive trends on social media platforms around Johannesburg.
Get all the details here:
http://tasolgt.co.za/2013/04/22/hoffmann-wraps-up-mzansi-tour-with-a-big-win/
1st Win for Tasol-GT from their development rider Jevandre Pauls
17yr old Jevandre Pauls secured one of the biggest wins of his career on Saturday (23 Feb) by winning the Daily Dispatch Classic in his hometown of East London. Paul is a junior riding for Tasol-GT, proudly sponsored by Staminade!
Paul was the only representation the team had at the Eastern Cape classic, while the Elites took part in the Carnival City Classic which saw team leader Johann Rabie finish 2nd to Tyler Day (Bonitas)!
A great achievement for the Tasol-GT team! To read the full article, click here
Hoffman Aims for Gold at the World's
Tommy Ballantyne from Independent Newspapers in Durban caught up with the Hoff as he was leaving his base in Mallorca over the weekend.
1. You have now campaigned in Europe for the past four months, how has it gone and do you feel it will be beneficial ahead of the worlds in a weeks time?
I have been competing on the 6-day racing circuit and its the first time that i did a full schedule like this. Mentally and physically i benefited allot by doing 6 out of the 8 six-days on the calendar. Therefore i think i am ready for the worlds.
2. With just one week until the worlds how has your preparation gone and do you think you can go one better than last year and win the rainbow jersey?
I’m in good condition ahead of the worlds and my spirits are high. We took a different approach this time around using the six-days as preparation as the racing there is at a really high level. I’m feeling confident that i can go one better this year and i really want to win.
3. We always hear how hard it is to make it in Europe on the road and Robbie Hunter recently expressed in the media some of his difficulties he faced in order to make it. What have some of the difficulties you’ve had to face while you have been campaigning in Europe if any?
Its really tough making it in Europe and hats off to Robbie for being so successful! Just as on the road, the track is also very hard. When you come from a non traditional cycling country the European guys dont show you the same respect like to the other riders and you have to fight in the racing the entire time just to ride at the front of the peloton. The hardest part is always the difficulties getting around. If its not getting to a race, its trouble getting to the airport or train station and also visa problems. I have been lucky, my soigneur that i work here in Europe and at the six-days helped me out allot.
4. Being based in Europe for the past four months must have been an expensive exercise with the current exchange rate and economic climate. Who funds a trip like this for you?
Its been really expensive thus far, but my team back home, Tasol GT has continued to pay my salary whilst here and some help from Cyling SA I’ve managed to survive. Dean (Edwards, team owner) is doing allot of the admin behind the scenes and that makes it so much easier for me, it feels like he is here with me the whole time.
5. With most races in South Africa ending in bunch sprints your road trade team in SA Tasol-GT must be battling without you. What do you want to say to your sponsors and team who have supported you on this journey and given you the freedom to realise your dream?
I’ve been speaking allot to the guys and everybody is missing me in the races. I realise my absence is putting extra pressure on the guys. But at the same time I’m really greatfull to the team for allowing me to pursue my goals on the track and without their support it wouldn’t have been possible. Dean has done allot to convince the sponsors as he really believe in what i can do internationally on the track.
6. Will you be doing any other events at the worlds besides the 15km Scratch?
Unfortunately the qualifications for the worlds is so difficult i had to focus 100% on just the scratch again. There was only one qualifying event each for the scratch or the points and with our limited budget we had to decide, so naturally for me i was always going to be the Scratch.
7. After the worlds what’s in store for Nolan Hoffman?Will you be taking a break?
Maybe just 3 days break. I am rushing back to join the team and I will start SA Road Champs. I want to help as much as I can to guys who can medal. And then there is the Argus. That is a big goal for me personally.
8. Long term what are your goals on the track?
Commonwealth games!
9. Do you feel we could get more youngsters onto the world track endurance stage?
Their is no shortage of talent in this country. I think it will happen and with Deans plans and vision our team will fast track the guys. However funding is always a issue and we need proper funding to do it.
10. If so, what message do you have for the youngsters who aspire to launch their international careers via an extensive track program?
As a young rider you need to do allot of road racing to get a good endurance base in addition to the track. The perception allot of young aspiring track riders have in this country is that you only need to train on the track. Good endurance track riders and well established road riders/sprinters. That is the fundamental of being a good track rider
Muscle Science would like to wish The Hoff all the best!
Tasol-GT prepare for their first race of 2013 season
Maree punches above his weight
David Maree (Tasol-GT) yet again showed he is one of the most versatile riders on the SA road scenen at the weekends Engen Dynamic Series in Durban. Maree just 60kgs finished 3rd in yet anmother field sprint of around 30 riders against some of the countries top local sprinters.
PRE-race favourite and defending title-holder, Arran Brown (MTN-Qhubeka), chalked up his 10th victory of the year with a well-judged finishing sprint that saw him cross the line just ahead of Tyler Day (Bonitas) and Maree (Tasol-GT) in yesterday’s third and last leg of the 2012 Engen Dynamic Cycle Challenge Series.
The result was identical to last week’s finishing order in the OFM Cycle Challenge in Bloemfontein and Brown said he was hoping his luck would hold out until next week’s end of season classic, the Momentum 94.7 in Johannesburg which he won last year and also in 2009.
An elated Brown said after the race: “This is a fantastic race, so well organised by Engen and by limiting teams to six riders each making it possible for the smaller professional teams to be competitive.
“This is definitely the way to go. What Engen are doing for elite cycling is not only revolutionary but also exciting.”
Brown has good reason to enjoy coming to Durban, he has won the Engen twice now, last year and this, and also the Amashova twice, in 2009 and 2010.
Maree said his Tasol-GT team were again without their main sprinter, Nolan Hoffman who is campaigning abroad, and this was proving to be a considerable handicap for the team however he was content with yet another podium finish being up agianst big 75+kgs sprinter.
Race Report - EPR Classic
Nolan Hoffman moves up a step on the podium! Check out the full EPR Classic Race Report here
Maree wins KOM competition and finished 3rd on GC
David Maree secured Tasol GT a podium finish at the Le Coq Sportif Cycle Tour outside Rustenburg this week as the 5 stage race came to a end yesterday after the final 78km stage. The team was again in the thick of the action on the stage as Richard Baxter narrowly missed out on a chance to secure a major win for himself when he was beaten on the line by MTN Qhubeka’s Calvin Beneke.
Johann Rabie (Bonitas) claimed overall honors with MTN Qhubeka’s Jacques janse van Rensburg edging out Maree by a mere 7 seconds after the 5 days of racing.
The final stage was controlled mostly by Rabie’s Bonitas teammates when 3 riders broke away early in the stage as none of Richard Baxter, Clint Hendricks (both Tasol GT) and Calvin Beneke (MTN Qhubeka) posed a serious threat to the yellow jersey.
Hendricks had an unfortunate puncture and his team car was stuck behind the main bunch and couldn’t get back to the break away. Calvin Beneke, son of former Rapport tour winner Gary Beneke, then outsprinted Baxter to take the final stage for Team MTN Qhubeka.
Maree who is fast becoming the rider he once was in the junior ranks also claimed the KOM Mountains competition and finished 2nd in the Points Competiton. The team will walk away from the tour with some much needed confidance ahead of it US campaign where the deprt on the 4th July for 3 week and 17 races.
The Tour was considered a great success and much needed event on South Africa’s professional road racing circuit and will hopefully grow into the premier cycling tour in SA.
For full results, visit tasolgt.co.za
Solid team performance at PPC Kremetart to secure a win for Maree
David Maree bounced back after a dissapointing Tour de Freestate two weeks ago to win the overall competiton and two stages at the 2012 edition of the PPC Kremetart Classic. The 175km event, split up into 4 stages saw top SA teams Europecar SA, Tasol-GT and Team Bonitas match up in a ding dong battle over 4 short, fast and hard stages.
Stage 1 – 53km
The most challenging part of the stage included a 8km climb which saw 4 riders escape. Maree along with teammate James Perry rode away with Hanco Kachelloffer and Jason Bakke of Team Bonitas. Willie Smith (Toyota CSA) managed to bridge the gap and make the 5-man decisive winning break. Kachelloffer opened up the sprint but it was Maree who took top honours with Willie Smith coming in 2nd and Kacheloffer 3rd.
Stage 2 – 48km
A relatively flat stage saw Tasol GT commit to team sprinter Nolan Hoffman at the same time as defending the overall lead of Maree. The team of Richard Baxter, William Bush, Myles van Musschenbroek along with Perry and Maree controlled the race perfectly for the star sprinter. With 5km remaining the lead bunch started to splinter in the strong gutter winds and the relentless attacks from Team Bonitas. But in the end it was Hoffman who bagged the teams 2nd win after the sterling job done by his team with Bonitas Johan Rabie in 2nd and Maree close to the action defending his overall lead by finishing 3rd.
Stage 3 – 52km
Tasol GT riders knew that stage 3 would be the decisive stage and as soon as the race got started the teams domestique s were sent straight to the front to control the race. Team Bonitas knew they had to try break up the team to make Maree lose time to Kachelhoffer but 40km into the stage they had yet to penetrate a much stronger looking outfit than two weeks prior at the Tour de Freestate. With just over 10km to go a sizable group went clear containing most of the strong riders. The finish of stage 3 was up a steep 1km climb. Maree had pointed out the day before that this was the stage he wanted to win because the sprint suited him perfectly. With 1km to go it was the ever working Perry setting it up for Maree. With 400m to go Smith (Toyota) opened up the sprint but it was Maree who powered away to win comfortably over Willie Smit and Kachelhoffer in 3rd.
Stage 4 – 22km
The 4th and final stage was a short 22km stage that featured one major obstacle, a 4km climb just before the finish. With just over 1km from the top Team Bonitas went on the attack with Johan Rabie and Jason Bakke. Richard Baxter took up the work of closing the gap a bit for Maree who with 500m from the top attacked across the gap to the two Bonitas riders with Hanco Kachelhoffer on his wheel. Maree managed to claim the King of the Mountain prime but had to ensure the help from teammates Baxter and Perry came from behind whom eventually rejoined the four leaders. With the pace being set by Perry and Baxter with 4km to go there would be no more attacks and it would all come down to another small group sprint. With about 400m to go Maree was leading it out for a sprint for Hoffman but an early attack at 300m saw Kachelhoffer open a gap on the group. Maree followed but could not catch Kachelhoffer in the final and finished 3rd with Julius Corbet finishing the stage in 2nd.
Overall
A successful day for the Tasol GT team winning 3 from 4 stages and claiming the overall title. Another good performance from Maree as he begins to step up with some credible race victories. Maree was delighted with his second victory of the season and had nothing but praise for his teamamtes and their efforts in setting him up for the win.
“The team rode an amazing race today and every rider gave 110%. Of all the riders in the race, I probably had the easiest ride due to the work my team did for me today. We have allot of young guys on this team but with the experience of Perry and Baxter looking after you they make it easy for the young guys to learn and understand. We really needed this victory as a unit” said Maree
Train with Muscle Science Athletes this May!
Train with champion bodybuilder, Johan Boshoff
Free weights area, Planet Fitness Montana
- Session 1: 17h00 - 18h00
- Session 2: 18h00 - 19h00
- Session 3: 19h00 - 20h00
Cycling session with Tasol-GT
Spinning Studio, Planet Fitness Montana
- Session 1: 17h00 - 18h00
- Session 2: 18h00 - 19h00
- Session 3: 19h00 - 20h00
FREE MUSCLE SCIENCE GOODIES UP FOR GRABS!
Limited space is available so make sure you book your spot at the welcome desk to avoid disappointment!
Members must book space for one non-member as well.
U23 Race Report
For the full report, click here
