Joanna van de Winkel wins the Berge, puts family before Olympics
NORTHCLIFF – Joanna van de Winkel puts family first but still wins big as an elite road cyclist.
Elite road cyclist Joanna van de Winkel is still tearing up the tar in South Africa’s biggest races while balancing this with being a mom to two youngsters.
The Northcliff resident, who races for Cycle Nation, recently won the Berge en Dale, a 109km race that started and ended in Krugersdorp this year.
She said it was special to see her young sons Ben (4) and Sam (6) at the finish.
“This win means a lot to me. I have been narrowly missing out on the podium for all the races this year so far,” she told Northcliff Melville Times.
Van de Winkel may be being hard on herself, as a fourth-place finish at the extremely competitive South African Road Cycling Championships in Mpumalanga in February was no small feat.
“I have been adjusting to a new routine with my six-year old starting at Cliffview Primary School in Grade 1 and I’ve been changing jobs to FNB Fairland. It’s not easy to juggle so much change in life and keep focused as an athlete. You have to be conscious of any stress in life as it affects your recovery and focus as a sports person.”
Van de Winkel decided last year already that this year she would dedicate more time to her sons and husband Tijl and not race internationally.
So when she heard she was on a long list for potential representatives at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, it was not hard for her to put her family first.
As it is, Van de Winkel already cycled in the London 2012 Olympics so she can tick that off her bucket list.
“I am very close to my two boys of four and six years and it was great to have them cheering for me as I soloed across the finish line [at Berge en Dale]. Thanks to Sandton City and Cycle Nation for continuing to support our team this year.”
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