It’s great to see you are back on the bike. Are there any lasting effects from your serious crash at the Tour of Turkey earlier in the year?
Well my mouth sure as hell took quite a pounding. Its still pretty stiff but at least I’m eating solid foods after six weeks of smoothie making. Of course bones don’t heal overnight and my back obviously is getting used to being back on the bike. I have done lots of core strength and back exercises to strengthen the muscles around the spine but at least everything feels pain free for the moment. Thats a good sign.
Are you in full training yet?
I started with just 20min on the bike 2 weeks ago, I remember walking to the shops once and was more stiff after than any race I’ve done before. But now I’m doing a fair bit on the road and getting into it. At least I know I am improving each day. The furthest being 3hrs for now.
What’s it like eating through a straw for several weeks?
More frustrating than anything else. Try come up with some tasty recipes through a straw, pretty tough. I actually once did some spaghetti bolognase through a straw, can’t say it was tasty. Actually the worst part was rinsing out the mouth after every bit of food I ate, the wires made it difficult to eat.
Joking aside, did you maintain your body weight on your liquid diet?
Its impossible to maintain your weight, I lost a few kilo’s but in a way it kept me in check and now I don’t have weight to lose, I’m at my racing weight now so thats alright. I did drink a few protein/meal replacement shakes as well to make sure I didn’t lose too much muscle.
Are you tired of talking about the crash yet and does it worry you that the crash will be remembered more than your overall victory!?
I don’t think that the crash will ever take the victory away but people prefer sensation and I suppose the crash gave them that. Its not everyday the yellow jersey gets brought down 500m to go, well not like that anyway. I am getting tired of talking about the crash though.
It must have been good to be back home in South Africa recovering with family and friends. What are your plans for the remainder of the season?
Well it was probably the best idea to come back here and have support from my friends, family and girlfriend. I have chatted to my team and it looks like the first race back for me will be on 6 Aug being GP Carnaghese. I was hoping to do Tour of Portugal but it seems we not doing that one, and Vuelta is not on for us either. My race program is all new to me, full of one day races that suit real climbers but I have proven before I can surprise a few people. My main goal is showing that I am back at full strength and ready to rock and roll. Of course I want to win, but I don’t need more pressure than I already have.
The South African cycling scene seems in a healthy state, do you think that’s down to pro riders like yourself and Robbie Hunter having such high profiles?
Haha, more Rob than I. When Rob won a stage in the Tour a lot of SA riders became more positive about the fact that its possible to race in Europe. Many SA riders think its too hard i n Europe but we changing that. Way more riders are coming from junior wanting to be European pro’s than local SA pro’s. Thats a good sign, we just need a system from SA cycling to help them.
Your father Tony was a pro cyclist, do you think it’s down to genetics that you have become a pro cyclist?
He has been a big influence in my career, not from a “father pushing his son” but rather giving me the best advice and help that he could. He wasn’t really a fast finisher like me but he could hold his own in the TT.
You initially started racing as a mountain biker, do you still ride your mountain bike and why the shift to the road?
I stopped MTB completely after my 2nd year as an U/16, there was no future in it for SA riders and I preffered racing on the road. I used to get beaten many times because my technical ability wasn’t as good as the others, plus I prefer getting home and not having to clean a dirty mountain bike. The road is more suited to me and it’s more of a team sport with loads of tactics and its never easy to predict a winner. It’s more challenging, well for me it is!
When did you decide that pro cycling was the career for you?
I always wanted to be a pro cyclist, since I started cycling. I always had that goal and pursued it with everything I had. In school, I would do homework during breaks so I had a few extra minutes to train in the day and I would wake up 4:30am to do a good 1.5hr loop before school started. Probably then.
Who was your cycling idol when growing up?
I didn’t really have one, I more respected the top riders. To beat them you can’t idolise them, respect them for sure, but you need to believe in yourself that you can beat them. Everyone has a weakness.
You have been on the podium in the mountainous Tour d’Langkawi and also won the sprinters jersey in the Giro del Capo, signaling an impressive all round ability of a successful stage racer. What would you class yourself as?
Yes I have won many races, uphill, flat, criteriums, prologues and time trials. I can do everything to a degree but my strength is sprinting out of a small group after a short hard climb when many sprinters get dropped. Thats why Turkey suited me, hard climbs but no Mt. Ventoux.
What’s the best and worst thing about being a pro cyclist?
Best thing : the limelight you get when winning a race, the lifestyle is great! I really enjoy staying in Como, Italy.
Worst thing: travelling, you’re home for a few days or sometimes even a day, living out of a suitcase.
There has been much hype surrounding the Bio-Passport system, give us your thoughts on it and if you regard it as an appropriate tool in the fight against doping.
Although it’s a pain to fill in all the wherabouts etc, the bio passport is good in the fact that they can see the guys who are playing “dirty tricks”. The only problem is the turn-around time but I think that will get better with time. It’s good that they catching riders and it seems its effective. Its sad that we need to fill in our daily activities but as a clean rider I am happy to fill it in to catch the cheats.
Is it tough being a professional cyclist in a sport, where many sports fans, feel there is a major doping problem and what measures would you like to see implicated to improve this?
You know the people who comment on cycling being a “dopers” sport are not even worth considering as they don’t know anything about the sport and have got nothing better to do with themselves but critizise.You can’t paint the peloton with the same brush, and I agree with UCI that most riders are clean. I am clean and I win races so I believe other riders are clean as well. Sure it’s crap to hear the bad stories but other sports are just as bad. Cycling is changing and at least they are doing something about it. What are other sports doing?
Who is the next cycling star to come out of South Africa?
Hopefully me
Tyres or tubulars?
Tubulars for sure. Its like playing pool with a rope otherwise
Britney Spears or Paris Hilton? (or neither!)
I’d have to go with Paris….. she got no kids haha!
Tell us about that crash you had in Turkey…!
That crash, was just so unreal. Today I watch it and I still cant believe it. I never knew it was a wrestling match, I would’ve been more alert. Its in the past now, nothing I can change! I hope justice gets served. I have to look ahead now, achieve my new goals and come back stronger than before.
Thanks to Daryl for taking the time to answer our questions.
Please visit Daryl’s official website here.
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