Pretoria youngster cycles from victory to victory
Whizz-kid Zayden de Lange currently holds the youngest official South African cyclist championship title.
A seven-year-old cycling whizz-kid from north-based Eduplex Primary School, Zayden de Lange, is a passionate young cyclist who currently holds the youngest official South African cyclist championship title and many more.
The grade 1 learner and cycling enthusiast got his first balance bike at the age of three, developed a passion for cycling and started racing six months later.
He claimed victory in 2022 as the SA BMC Cup Winner, claiming eight gold medals and his success continued the following year when he won the SA BMX Cup and was crowned the Overall SA Champion, securing another eight gold medals.
Picture: Supplied
He also earned a silver medal at the 2022 Afcon UCI International BMX Championship and repeated this victory earlier this year.
De Lange has also excelled in the SA BMX Cup running series, winning five gold medals, and took top honours with a gold medal in the Trial Seeker Mountain Bike Marathon Short Sub Nipper category.
His mother, Stella de Lange, said her son learned to cycle at the Eduplex Pump track and was coached by a local as he was learning to ride for the first time.
“Zayden was lucky that he could start riding at a young age and be introduced to the great sport of BMX.”
Photo: Supplied
According to her, De Lange’s lucky bike is his Early Rider 16 inch Belter that he started racing on and he enjoys jumping, doing tricks and playing afterwards when cycling.
“His biggest influence is all his BMX friends and he does not want anyone to beat him in any of the competitions.”
De Lange’s parents introduced him to cycling at an early age.
His mother said it was more the fun, playing and being active that did it for him at that age.
She said his father Andre has been the one person that helped his son on his journey.
Photo: Supplied
“We hope to see him grow and develop in the sport BMX or mountain bike and see him participate in the Olympics one day.”
De Lange’s father said his son is a very competitive little boy who does not like to lose.
“The biggest lesson we had to teach him was that, there always will be a lot of disappointments in this journey, the same as in life and if he falls, he has to get up and keep going.”
He said as a three-year-old his son was not very committed, but his fearlessness pulled him through his races.
Photo: Supplied
“He has grown older and is much more committed and focused to training and racing now.”
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