Past Energy Breakthrough participant, Steele Von Hoff, has sprinted to victory in the 2018 Commonwealth Games Men’s Road Race!

This extraordinary feat is even more amazing given it was just seven weeks ago that Steele broke four vertebrae in a training event. His recovery was sped up by cycling on a human powered vehicle (HPV) at his home in Mornington as the position was highly supportive for his fragile back and neck. Channel 7 interviewer, Sam Lane, nicknamed him the ‘Man of Steele’ for his heroic effort on Saturday on the Gold Coast.

 

How did the race unfold?

In a tense final 10km, Von Hoff was in the lead group with Cameron Meyer and a collection of strong riders from New Zealand, South Africa, England and Wales. Despite a number of attacks and surges, the bunch came together for the sprint in the final few kilometres and Meyer lead out Steele beautifully for him to launch his attack for the win!

Steele told the Herald Sun:

“With 150m to go I thought ‘I’ve actually got some pace here, I could win this’ and the reaction of the crowd told me I’d got the gold.

“I don’t think it’s even sunk in and absorbed yet, the realisation will probably hit tonight that I’ve actually done it.”

Remember the days in the old school yard?

Steele was involved in the Energy Breakthrough over three years with Mt Martha Primary School and The Peninsula School between 2002 – 2004. He was also an exceptional rider for Community Teams, winning the Australian International Pedal Prix on a number of occasions, too. (We hope he won’t mind too much, pictured above here, fifth from the right in 2004)

“My heroes and idols when I was at school were my training buddy’s that I looked up to. Back then I wasn’t into cycling yet, I was still chasing my dreams as a triathlete!” Steele said of his cycling ambitions at the time.

“But when Human Powered Vehicles all started for me in Grade 6 and I used to train for trikes at lunch times on Wednesdays for a hour; all we wanted to do was have fun, and I think that’s the main thing about the Energy Breakthrough!”

What impact did you see Energy Breakthrough having on other students?

“I saw it bring people together, and do things that they normally wouldn’t be confident doing.” Steele said of the impact the Energy Breakthrough had when he was at school.

What would you say to people about EB?

  • Human powered vehicles gave me so much:
  •  it gave me my trade as a boiler maker, since I loved the steps involved welding the trikes.
  • It gave me my friendship group, as most of my best friends were involved with the sport.
  • It gave me my current job as a pro cyclist racing in Europe, ultimately it has paved the way for the way I live my life!

Energy Breakthrough: Powered By Imagination

Congratulations Steele!