All-rounder cyclist wants to be remembered one day

Damian Halderman (17) of Hoërskool Bergvlam took up
off-road cycling at age 14 when he participated in the Eric Van Enter. He
represented Mpumalanga in Bloemfontein finishing third. “I looked like the Oros
man’s brother. I was overweight and my dad decided to get me into
cycling.”
He weighed 69 at the age of 12 and it took him two years to shed
the access weight. “Still today at some races people think I am a spectator. Two
years ago I started proper cycling. I participated in all three races of the
TracN4 Junior Cycling in Nelspruit. It is most definitely a world-renowned race
as scouts as far as Italy fly to South Africa to look at new up and coming
cyclists.”
In the beginning of the year, he decided to take up mountain
biking and participated in the Spur School Challenge where he finished fourth
overall. “I was just short of third place as I had my appendix removed before
the race. I got bronze in the Das Auto and finished third in the Jock
series.”
He recently went to Johannesburg to do some intermediate track
cycling. “I finished fourth overall, but it was my first race and it was
awesome. Your bike has no brakes.”
Halderman is riding his third 94,7
challenge and on November 23 he will participate in the Grand Prix to hopefully
qualify for the inter-provincials. “I am still finding my strength. MTB takes a
lot of explosive power and technical skill where road cycling is about constant
stamina.” He spends more or less 13 to 14 hours on the road six times a week.
The man who believes in Halderman, Russel Pillay, sees great things for this
young rider. “He is a good kid, he has great manners, well behaved and is
focused.
He is a good all-rounder cycler – road, MTB and track.”
His parents and friends play a huge role when it comes to inspiration and
motivation.