Team News – First for Von Hoff of NFTO

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Australian Criterium Champion, Steele von Hoff (NFTO) capitalised on a fast circuit for Tour Series Round 8, to take the win from a long awaited bunch sprint

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Team News – First for Von Hoff of NFTO

The Australian Criterium Champion, Steele von Hoff capitalised on a fast circuit for Tour Series Round 8, around the centre of London’s financial district to take the win from a long awaited bunch sprint.

“Canary wharf put on a really good race, it was a fast flowing circuit, which put on a fantastic show for the spectators”, exclaimed Steele post race. “It’s my dad’s birthday today in Australia, so I really wanted to get him a good present. So getting the Green & Gold across the line was the perfect thing for him to wake up to.”

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The Canary Wharf course, due to its clean four-sided circuit, and smooth surface is thought to be an easy race and generally comes to a bunch sprint, but this was far from that. This round was one of the more exciting races for the season in terms of risks and tactics. An early crash dictated how the race panned out, as Hank (James Lowsley-Williams) went down dislocating his shoulder. Also caught up in the crash was Madison Genesis rider Tom Stewart.

Speaking to Steele after the race he ran us through the action, “After the unfortunate crash that tangled up Hank, it put Madison-Genesis on the back foot trying to chase the peloton, with Tom Stewart off the back. One Pro tried to gain valuable points in the series and put all 5 riders on the front to try and keep Madision away to win the teams classification”.

“All of the One Pro team committed to the front driving the peloton away from the chase group. All four of the other Madison riders, dropped back to get Tom and get back to the front to save the teams competition”.

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“This worked perfectly in our favour, as the pace stopped any potential breakaways from happening and staying away, whilst burning out our competition for the win. “With One Pro managing to lap Madision Genesis at the 50 minute mark, Zach jumped on the front with one of the Wiggins riders and kept the tempo high, bringing it to the line for a bunch kick, said Steele. “Everyone in the team played a role today; Hank even with his dislocated shoulder, was a machine and continued to ride the rest of the race.”

“Johnny positioned me perfectly, holding me in the top 10 wheels for most of the race, and at the end dropped me off on Ed Clancy’s wheel in the final few hundred metres. Ed did an absolutely amazing sprint and I thankfully managed to get around him, but only in the end, he’s just so strong!”

“We’ve been working so hard as a team at the Tour Series, so it’s nice to get a win for the boys and pay them back for all their hard work and see it all come together. I finally got my Aussie Kask helmet that’s been chasing us around the county, and I competed in the warm-up Corporate Gran Prix with our sponsor Catley Lakemam, so I’m not sure which was the good luck charm, but it was great to have it all go to plan”.

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“It was really important to all of us to get on the podium showing off the Aberdeen Asset Management jersey in London to thank them for their support. We have such a tight team, we’re all good mates and I’m so glad we got the win in the flagship Tour Series Round”.

Note: After a late night visit to A&E it’s confirmed there’s no break to Hank’s collarbone, which the team had suspected was the case and he’ll be back racing once the swelling goes down.

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