The nickname aidanvn13 is for sure not unknown to Pro Cycling Manager players. More than decent graphist on forums, the young south african prepares at the same time his cycling career ! Aidan van Niekerk (his complete name) actually targets a professional future in cycling. In his inaugural blog post on PCM.Daily, he says « Being from South Africa and outside the structure of European racing, it is very much a long road for us to the top-level. ». And that's why he recently landed in Martigues with his bike for some months of racing on the french amateur circuit. I was given the opportunity to interview him.
Le Gruppetto : The Martigues SC, you new club, is in DN2, the 2nd amateur division in France. What were your motivations to join such a team, far from home ?
Aidan van Niekerk : My manager and coach, Barry Austin, has had contact with the club for a long time. A few years ago Team Bonitas (now Team Telkom) had a programme along with La Pomme Marseille to have South Africans riders race in France. From then on Barry has had contact with the management at Martigues as well. Many South Africans have raced for Martigues previously, like HB Kruger (Telkom teammate), Clint Hendricks, Jayde Julius, Dylan Girdlestone, and so on.
I know for me to reach my goal of becoming a professional I have to race in Europe. The differences and demands of European racing compared to South African is extraordinary. It's not that South African riders aren't talented, it's just everything is different: the start times of races, the length, the parcours, to name a few. And, let's say if there are 60 starters in a South African elite race, there are maybe 20 guys with a fair chance of winning. If there are 200 starters in a European elite race, there are 200 guys with a fair chance of winning !
AVNÂ : Like I mentioned in the previous answer, Barry already had contact with Martigues. He has contacts all over Europe, but we decided France would be best. The French amateur racing is known for being very tough (I can confirm!) and I've heard from a few French riders that many of the French amateur races are harder than some UCI tours.
Last year was our first trip to Europe as juniors to race at UCI level. We knew we would struggle because we were never exposed to racing at such a high level before. It took us a few races to get used to how things worked, like racing in bunches of 200 juniors, but I only started feeling confident in the final stage of Ronde des Vallees (Bretagne). It was the first time I was actually able to be in decicive moves in the finale of a race. I didn't get a result that day, but it was very promising. Although I see myself as a climber, I do like the « toughness » of French-style racing and realised this in Bretagne
LG : We can find some african riders in France : Keagan Girdlestone, Willie Smit et Till Drobisch for example ride or have been in Nantes, to only cite them. Can we say that you follow the example of your elders ?
AVN : For sure. It's great to see guys like Willie and Till on a similar path (although their path is a few years ahead of mine). Willie is doing really well to hold his own and he is a very talented bike rider – the guy is also extremely tough. I'm really suprised he never got another good contract after his year at Nippo-Fantini. Till has moved on to get a contract with Christina Jewelry (Germany) and Keagan, to just be brief, has moved to Dimension Data Development. For me, I'd like to do something similar – move on to a higher level each year. Gaining experience, making mistakes, and learning from them to become a better rider.
LG : Do you have an idea of the races where you wil ride this summer ?
AVNÂ : Mostly just French amateur races and maybe the odd u23 race in Spain. Unfortunately, although Martigues has invites to some UCI races, it doesn't look like we will be going. Stage races coming up in the next few weeks are Tour du Pays Roannais and Tour de Dordogne.
LG : In South Africa, you joined this year the newly born Team Telkom. We find in it « only » 7 riders. Has the selection been tough to be part of this adventure ?
AVN : I am very grateful to have the opportunity to join Team Telkom and the support I receive from them is amazing. The owner, Malcolm Lange, is also genuinely interested in my personal development as a rider. It's special to be a apart of a team where people are interested in what's best for my personal goals. I think much of the work people like Malcolm and Barry do for young riders goes unnoticed !
I think the team was impressed with the reports they heard of how I raced in Europe. Sure, no results, but I think my attitude is what impressed them most. Unfortunately, I've been very disappointed with my performances with the team so far this year. I trained very hard through December/January and went into our first tour over-trained. Since that tour the racing really started up and I never managed to get any form together. However, with the feeling I've had in recent races I'm very excited to get back and make up with some hard work for the team !
LG : In Team Telkom, we can find Nolan Hoffman, former scratch vice world champion and Johann Rabie, who had some experience in the Continental Division (with Team Bonitas). I suppose they have interesting profils for your type of team, isn't it ?
AVNÂ : Johann Rabie and HB Kruger also take part in a lot of mountainbike events, so that adds an extra dynamic to logistics and tactics, especially when races clash. Morne van Niekerk (not my brother, although he's a good friend) and I have a lot in common. Both of us are chasing our dream to race professionally in Europe and work alongside Barry Austin. I learn a lot from him and although he's only 21, he has a very mature professional attitude about him.
Of course, a guy like Nolan Hoffman is someone of a legend in South Africa. In my region especially he is a household name – despite cycling not being a popular sport in South Africa. Every meeting I learn a lot from my older team mates, which is excellent for my development.
LG : I noticed that in the Team LeadOUT's staff, which you were in last year, we could see...John-Lee Augustyn. What impact did it had on your development as a junior rider ?
AVN : Wow, I can't tell you how much I learnt from J-L. What an honour to have him as a manager and mentor ! When I watch the video of his ride in the 2008 Tour de France (https://www.ina.fr/video/I13123785). I really wonder what could have been had it not been for his injury problems (looking at his days as an espoir, he was way better than Chris Froome!).
Mentally he is the toughest person I've ever met. From him I learned that being a professional is more than just how good you are at riding a bike, but also your attitude towards training, eating, racing, and fine details.
LG : You are from the 1997 generation, like Keagan Girdlestone. Do you think that, with him, South Africa got a new rising star of african cycling ?
AVN : Keagan is a very talented bike rider and has the professional attitude of a champion. I saw this at Ronde des Vallees when he fought on to defend the jersey on the last stage. He treats his team mates better than many professionals do. He has the right mindset and toughness to make him a Grand Tour winner one day. He has the physical talent and the mental toughness – now I feel he just needs some good fortune after serious injury.
LG : Again about Keagan Girdlestone...Were you affected by his dramatic fall on the Coppa della Pace ?
AVN : I'm not exactly friends with Keagan and don't know him personally, but we have met on occasion. I gained mountains of respect for him after I saw how he raced and treated his team mates who helped him in Ronde des Vallees.
I was deeply affected by his crash. From what I understand it is a miracle that he survived. It can only be his fighting spirit that made him pull through, because the medical logic says it should not have been survivable. His injuries are very severe as well. I heard some people say he'll never be able to cycle again – but they most not know Keagan very well ! I find myself in a very similar scenario – far from home and family, in a foreign country, racing my bike, so I can only imagine how traumatic it has been for him and his family.
LG : Last question, related to our website Le Gruppetto : Have you ever been in a Gruppetto, and if yes can you say how it organized ?
AVN : Yes, I remember one day in Austria last year when I was in the break for the first half of a climbing stage and completely cracked when we got caught by the peloton. I might just clarify that being in the Grupetto does not mean an easy ride ! Most of the time most guys are suffering because they were in a break on the previous day, were very active in the first half of the race, or just aren't good climbers. Most of the time there are a few guys who feel the « freshest » in the group and they set the pace for most of the day. If they get a bit too rushed, the rest of the group will be sure to let them know (doesn't matter what nationality the riders are, usually everyone gets the idea) ! You always get a few clowns who decide to set off on their own for no good reason and finish 1 or 2 minutes ahead of the grupetto. Why ? I don't know !
