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<\/a>Cycling South Africa President, William Newman, won the “Best Veteran Cyclist” trophy three years in succession at the Paarl Boxing Day Track cycling event. Photo: Supplied<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\u201cThe feeling of going to Paarl Boxing Day was almost, if not greater, than going to Worlds. It was definitely the focal point of Track cycling in the Cape,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hansen, who has won the iconic 25 Mile race twice, come second once and come third once, recalls the feeling that accompanied the title. \u201cTo win at Boxing Day is awesome. I began cycling at the age of 18 and became a life member of the Bellville Cycling Club in the 80’s. It was an incredible club and one of the strongest in the country. When a Bellville rider won the 25 we would stop at the Klapmuts Hotel, fill the trophy and celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the early days, Hansen mentioned the pacers, who would be allowed to come on to the track to assist riders who had broken away in an effort to lap the field. “One of the most famous winners of these was Bennie Gelderblom – a young Paarl rider – who had also broken away like this. The Paarl public went Ballistic!” he said.<\/p>\n
“It was much more difficult then,\u201d said Hansen. \u201cWe were seeing fields of 25-60 riders at a time on the track, and the top guys would then have a lot of stop-starting to endure. But often riders can misjudge their ability on the track \u2013 it\u2019s not an easy sport. I think the limit used to be 75 people and no matter how many starters there were, we\u2019d be lucky if we got 10 finishers,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Hansen mentioned the effects of the weather as well: \u201cDoing well also had a lot to do with knowing the track. It gets hot in Paarl, boy does it get hot! There have been times in the past where you\u2019re about to start, and you can just see the guy\u2019s tyre in front of you sinking into the tar before your very eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had all of the extremes. One year, halfway through the race, there was so much rain that everybody threw their sunglasses off so that they could see where they were going. I kept one had on the handlebars and the other I used as a windscreen wiper for my glasses. There was so much water that you couldn\u2019t even see where the track started. I remember being stuck on the inside, and just went for it. Down I went into the water, and rode my heart out \u2013 still managing to lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrowd appeal was a very big thing,\u201d continued Hansen. \u201cYou always wanted to perform better because of the amount of supporters. The atmosphere there is a wonderful thing, unlike anywhere else. There were many times when you as a rider couldn\u2019t even hear yourself think because of the noise from the crowd. It was one of the only days where we\u2019d see cycling and athletics events in one day, so you\u2019d have the masses supporting both disciplines,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very seldom that you see somebody who has won the year before come back and take the title again, which is why I am so happy for Nolan (Hoffman) who has managed to win five times,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
Current Cycling South Africa President, William Newman, shared some of his memories about Paarl Boxing Day: \u201cI have mixed emotions about Boxing Day as, due to the apartheid era, we could not compete at the event and I could never do so while at the peak of my career. I do however remember the event as an iconic event while growing up as my brothers and uncles (all champion cyclists themselves) before me were in the same boat of being deprived of the opportunity to compete there, but it was an event we were very aware of.\u201d<\/p>\n
While in the prime of his career, Newman could not compete and was only able to do so with the dawn of the country\u2019s new democracy in the 90s. \u201cI was a veteran cyclist at that time and won the trophy for the best veteran three years in succession. As a 41-year-old veteran I finished fifth in the iconic 25 Mile, sprinting to the line with the likes of Garth Thomas and Dean Edwards, where Garth recorded the first of his four 25 Mile wins,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n