Foreign victors in Argus, Giro 2006
Brad Morgan
13 March 2006
Stefan Radochla of the German Wiesenhof team claimed the final stage honours in the Giro Del Capo by capturing the 109-kilometre Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour in a sprint finish on Sunday, marking the second year in succession that a foreign cyclist has taken the line honours in the world's largest individually timed cycle race.
Radochla clocked two hours, 34 minutes and 28 seconds to edge out Team Exel's Nolan Hoffman. Stefan Heiny of team Lamonta came through in third to secure the final place on the podium.
The victory was a well-merited reward for Radochla, a one-day specialist, after he spent considerable time at the end of 2005 training in South Africa in preparation for the Giro Del Capo.
Good team support
Speaking after his victory, Radochla said he owed his win to good team support, and to the fact that he had a clear line for the final sprint. "This win is going to help start my European season
very well," he added.
Overall honours in the Giro Del Capo went to Konica Minolta rider Peter Veltis, who wore the leader's pink jersey after winning the second stage on Thursday. He finished just six seconds ahead of three-time champion David George.
Thrilled with his victory, the Slovakian said winning the Giro was important because he rides for a South African-sponsored team, and because he considers the country his second home.
Consistent form
Consistent form is what won Velits the tour, and that consistency was borne out by his results in other categories. He finished second in the King of the Mountains competition, behind Darren Lill, and took third in the points standings, which were topped by Radochla and Malcolm Lange.
Team Barloworld had been hot favourites to provide the winning rider, but they had to make do with the team title, which they annexed ahead of the Nedbank Invitation outfit and Wiesenhof.
In the
Women's Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour, Anriette Schoeman, riding for Proline, claimed victory for the fifth time, beating Ronel van Wyk and Anke Erlank in a sprint for the finish line.
Five-time wheelchair winner of the Boston Marathon, Ernst van Dyk, took victory in the hand cycle race for the second year in succession.
Argus results
1. Steffen Radochla (Wiesenhof)
2. Nolan Hoffman (Exel)
3. Stefan Heiny (Lamonta)
4. Giosue Bonomi (Barloworld),
5. Jurgen Roelandts (Bodysol-Win for Life-Jong Vlaanderen)
6. Ivan Ravaioli (Nedbank Invitation)
7 Rupert Rheeder (Exel)
8. Jay Thompson (Dimension Data/ Microsoft)
9. Juan van Heerden (Colorpress/ Cyclingnews)
10. Christoff van Heerden (Hi-Q)
Giro del Capo general classification
1. P Velits (Konica Minolta)
2. David George (Nedbank)
3. Ryan Cox (Barloworld)
4. Darren Lill (Nedbank)
5. Tiaan Kannemeyer
(Barloworld)
6. Felix Cardenas (Barloworld)
7. Martin Velits (Konica Minolta)
8. Marnus Potgieter (Colorpress/ Cyclingnews)
9. Leif George Lampater (German National Track Team)
10. Garhard Trampusch (Wiesenhof)
Team general classification
1. Barloworld
2. Nedbank Invitation
3. Wiesenhof
4. Konica Minolta
5. Microsoft
6. Colorpress/Cyclingnews
7. German National Track Team
8. Lamonta
9. Belgian National Track Team
10. Bodysol-Win for Life-Jong Vlaanderen
| 
