![\"ccs-62657-0-49304300-1488815870.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-49304300-1488815870.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Irishman Philip Lavery (Alfa Bodyworks) celebrates his win in the 102km opening stage of the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope road race, which started and finished at the La Paris Estate near Paarl today. Photo: Robert Ward<\/span><\/p>\nThe 26-year-old Alfa Bodyworks rider from Dublin, who only arrived in South Africa on Wednesday, clocked a time of 2:21:06 on the relatively flat 102km ride through the Cape Winelands to claim this year\u2019s first yellow jersey.<\/p>\n
He was followed home by 94.7 Cycle Challenge champion Brendon Davids and BCX\u2019s Calvin Beneke.<\/p>\n
The day\u2019s outcome saw most of the general classification favourites finish behind in the main peloton, leaving them with some work to do when the tour resumes tomorrow with the 26km Buffet Olives individual time-trial.<\/p>\n
Lavery only returned to professional cycling last year after a two-year hiatus and was thrilled to get his adopted team a win in South Africa\u2019s premier road stage race.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got away early on and I didn\u2019t do a lot of work as we have Jayde Julius for the GC,\u201d a jubilant Lavery said afterwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is just my second race of the year, but I think it is a good indication of my form.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lavery said he knew the run-in to the finish after competing in last year\u2019s tour and wanted to make sure he entered the chute first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe attacks started relatively far out. I just waited and waited for the finish as I knew it was a little bit of a headwind.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I went, I went hard and they weren\u2019t able to come around me. I think I maybe won by about three bike lengths.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lavery said the attacks started within the first 20 kilometres.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were still on the main road when the breaks started going. Normally I don\u2019t need to be in the breakaway, but I was at the front of the peloton when the final break formed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt went away really easy because most of the top teams were represented. And it was up to them to ride hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were four riders from Dimension Data and three from BCX riding for general classification and I was just able to stick with the attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former Cofidis and Synergy Baku rider said he was uncertain of how the time-trial would go and was happy, for now, to bask in the glory of today\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what Alfa Bodyworks got me here for and I\u2019m happy to repay their faith in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lavery, a former U23 national champion and bronze medallist in the team pursuit at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, said he had not been in top condition in last year\u2019s Tour of Good Hope.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have managed to pick up on my fitness this year and my power output is probably 80 watts better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bestmed-ASG\u2019s An-Li Kachelhoffer won the women\u2019s race in 3:01:09 by half a wheel after getting the better of Namibian Vera Adrian (Dorma Karma) in a lengthy sprint finish.<\/p>\n