A determined force

Jean Spies was a force to be reckoned with in Morocco at the African Champs held between 15 and 19 February. Here he managed to win two African Champs titles that now make him eligible to compete in the World Champs which will be held in London 2 to 6 March.

The talented cyclist said his love for the sport started when he was six years old. He added that he first started with road cycling and then by the time he was 14 years old, his love for track cycling developed. “My dad was and still is a keen cyclist so I guess you could say that I just secretly wanted to please him by going into a sport he loved,” said Spies. He also divulged that with anything you do, there is always some form of doubt, but as long as you progress with your passion, there would be success.

Spies went on to explain that the racing standard in South Africa is high, and that qualifying for the champs is no easy task. To train for his competitions the Fontainbleau resident would ride his bike at high intensity for at least two hours with a gym session in between. He further went on to explain that one of his challenges with the Africa Champs this year was the language barrier he faced in Casablanca, Morocco. “The track was also one that I had to quickly adapt to as the weather conditions also played a role in the way we rode,” said Spies. He also noted how in comparison, the World Champs would be easier to adapt to as they are to be held at the London Velodrome.

Another one of the challenges any athlete faces is sponsorship.”It’s not easy finding sponsorship, so I’m working on faith and seeing what comes my way,” Spies added.

To those seeking to fulfil their passion, Spies concluded with some wise sentiments, “The race is won in the mind, the person willing to suffer the longest will find success.”

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