13 Aug 2019

South Africa’s cyclist, Nolan Hoffman has enouraged local riders to work on some areas to enhance their performance. Hoffman, despite applauding the Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) for their commitment towards the development of cycling South African cyclist Nolan Hoffman feels that local riders still need to work on some areas to enhance their performance.

The Bank Gaborone Quest challenge champion said this in an interview after amassing the challenge’s coveted title over the weekend. The challenge is in its second year.  The professional cyclist advised local riders to consistently engage in proper feeding schedule during the races, as such is important in their performance.

 “Local riders do not have proper feeding schedules and so the engines blow up,” noted Hoffman. He attested that the local riders have the skills, but tend to run out of energy to maintain the intensity.  Hoffman added that local cyclists have the same speed as South African professionals especially in the single tracks. Therefore he said they need to concentrate on increasing that base on better nutrition.

As a professional cyclist, Hoffman indicated that it is important to keep refueling their strengths and said from his observation local riders do not do that consistently. “I can feel the amount of effort one has to put in consistently over three hours during these races, and from what I have observed that the guys here don’t make use of water spots,” noted Hoffman.

While it is taxing to keep a proper feeding schedule especially on bumpy rides, the professional rider said it is essential to, where possible. “Failure to maintain the feeding schedule is the local riders’ slip-up.”

He acknowledged local cyclists proficiency, indicating that the local riders tested his skills on Bank Gaborone Quest and put him on the back foot.  “How quickly they go through the single tracks and every time we went for single tracks I would pray for a jip trek just so I can catch up,” detailed Hoffman adding that it was fun chasing the guys.

He further indicated that Botswana mountain biking is a great challenge and training for him as he has been out of the mountain biking for a while.

The champion uses this meets for big stage mountain bike races such as the Cape Epic South Africa.

 He commended the route markings which he described as hard, fun route with many challenging single tracks.

He commended BCA for seeing it fit to send their All Africa Games slated for Morocco in two weeks.

Hoffman said such exposure is essential in the riders career. 

The professional rider said the dedication from the riders is commendable and noted that they should focus on the sport use the given opportunity to better themselves. ENDS