![\"ccs-62657-0-38211000-1489151636.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-38211000-1489151636.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>RoadCover\u2019s Kent Main claimed the biggest win of his career when he was crowned champion on the final day of the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope that finished at the Taal Monument near Paarl today. Photo: Robert Ward<\/span><\/p>\nIt was an agonising outcome for the 24-year-old Van Musschenbroek, made more excruciating by a wait of about 15 minutes before the timekeepers were able to confirm the final standings.<\/p>\n
Main ultimately clocked an overall time of 8:31:22 over four stages after the penultimate stage was cancelled due to extreme winds yesterday. His teammate Eddie van Heerden completed the podium in 8:32:22.<\/p>\n
After forcing his way into overall contention with a fourth-place finish in Tuesday\u2019s individual time-trial, Van Musschenbroek put in a desperate effort to protect his lead up the final climb, but Main\u2019s power on the hills ultimately made the difference.<\/p>\n
Stage honours went to Dimension Data\u2019s defending champion Stefan de Bod after he also won Tuesday\u2019s Buffet Olives time-trial, followed by teammate Joseph Areruya. Main took third place on the day.<\/p>\n Afterwards, the 21-year-old Main, from Linden in Johannesburg, said he felt the first major victory of his career was a result of a more structured programme he implemented last year.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the help of my brother I set up a plan halfway through last year aimed at training for this tour, but I always knew it would be hard to win.<\/p>\n \u201cI have often said to my mates this is one of my favourite races and one I always wanted to win. Now that it\u2019s happened, I\u2019m really happy and it will boost my career going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n He paid tribute to his Johannesburg rival, who fought all the way to protect his overnight lead.<\/p>\n \u201cMyles was able to manage everything that came his way today and his team looked after him really well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could not have done more to attack him and to eventually win it by one second is more than I could have hoped for.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Musschenbroek, who lives in Rosebank in Johannesburg and works full time, was exhausted by his final effort and said he \u201cwas seeing stars and felt dizzy\u201d at the end.<\/p>\n \u201cOur team has never been in this situation so from the start it was a learning experience. But my teammates rode perfectly to control the race.<\/p>\n \u201cI was a bit stressed out during the stage, probably from putting pressure on myself, and I gave it absolutely everything I could on the last climb.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Kent put up a great fight. It was fantastic for the race and he deserves the win.\u201d<\/p>\n Main also won the King of the Mountain competition, with Alfa Bodyworks\u2019 Irish import Philip Lavery taking the points competition.<\/p>\n Candace Lill of dormakaba claimed the women\u2019s title by finishing fourth on the stage to comfortably protect the two-minute lead she had going into the final day.<\/p>\n<\/a>Kent Main of RoadCover stops the clock after his surge up the climb to the Taal Monument near Paarl earned him victory by one second on the final day of the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope near Paarl today. Photo: Robert Ward<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Pro Touch\u2019s Myles van Musschenbroek recovers after a desperate, but ultimately unsuccessful bid, to retain the yellow jersey on the final day of the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope at the Taal Monument near Paarl today. Photo: Robert Ward<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Pro Touch\u2019s Myles van Musschenbroek (back to camera) congratulates Kent Main of RoadCover after he was officially confirmed as the winner by one second on the final day of the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope at the Taal Monument near Paarl today. Photo: Full Stop Communications<\/span><\/p>\n