A matric learner from Paul Roos Gymnasium was recently crowned the Western Cape U19 Junior Men’s Olympic Cross-Country (XCO) Cycling Champion.
This was according to Marc Fourie, head coach at Cycling Academy, an academy which focuses on coaching for cyclists in Stellenbosch.
The learner, JP du Plessis, competed in the XCO Championships that took place at Laborie Wine Estate, in Paarl on 6 August, said Fourie.
It is important for young riders to prioritise having fun while cycling, said Marc Fourie, head coach of the Cycling Academy in Stellenbosch. JP du Plessis (pictured above) won the Western Cape U19 Cross Country Cycling Olympics in Paarl on 6 August. PHOTO: Supplied/JP du Plessis
Persistence is key
Du Plessis’s cycling journey began in 2020 when he raced against his friends, he said.
However, his perspective of the sport changed in 2022 after he joined the Cycling Academy in Stellenbosch.
“[I] got a coach, and started a structured cycling training program [at the academy],” said Du Plessis.
The programme included a variety of high intensity interval workouts geared towards race course training, explained Fourie.
When an athlete achieves a goal, so does the coach. Every step in the right direction moves you forward, said Marc Fourie, Cycling Academy head coach, Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Tapiwanashe Zaranyika
Towards the championship
Du Plessis has always been a fantastic athlete and has developed into a smart racer, said Willem Visagie, Du Plessis’s teammate and friend.
Du Plessis placed fourth in the South African Cross-Country Marathon Mountain Biking Championships in March of this year.
“[Placing fourth] gave me the confidence to compete for the provincial title on 6 August,” said Du Plessis.
Despite being ill in the week leading up to the championships, Du Plessis had trust in the dedication that he had put towards his training, he explained.
JP du Plessis, who recently won the Western Cape U19 Cross Country Olympics Cycling champion, is a great sportsman, said Willem Visagie, Du Plessis’s teammate. PHOTO: Supplied/JP du Plessis
An electric atmosphere
“The atmosphere at the championships was electric, as there were many spectators who motivated the athletes, creating an exhilarating atmosphere,” said Du Plessis.
“Du Plessis winning the championships brought a lot of joy to the academy [and] it made us excited and motivated to keep working hard [as a team],” said Visagie.
JP du Plessis, the current Western Cape U19 Olympic Cross-Country Cycling champion, is currently in grade 12 at Paul Roos Gymnasium, and hopes to pursue mountain biking as a professional career one day. PHOTO: Tapiwanashe Zaranyika