Louis Meintjes made local cycling history at the 2016 Tour de France when he became the highest South African finisher in the general classification.
Louis Meintjes made local cycling history when he became the highest South African finisher in the general classification (GC) at this year’s Tour de France. Photo: Louis Meintjes Facebook/bettiniphoto.net
The Lampre Merida rider finished the 21-day Tour in eighth place on the GC and was the second highest finisher in the Young Riders (White Jersey) classification.
The 24-year-old acknowledged that he had experienced terrible luck early in the season and although he knew that his form was good, illnesses and crashes set him back from achieving his targets.
“Finally when I arrived at the Dauphine and the Tour de France there were no problems and I was able to deliver a good race and a good result. I’m really happy about that,” he said.
After being forced to withdraw from last year’s Tour due to an illness, Meintjes had unfinished business.
“It was always the plan to prepare for Tour de France this year and to try for a GC result. It was really nice that it all came together.”
The Rustenburg local now only has two weeks to prepare for another major milestone in his life – to represent his country at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Adding to the impression the South Africans left on the 103rd edition of the Tour de France, Team Dimension Data’s victories in the first week will long be remembered.
With four stage wins in the first seven days of racing, five stage wins overall – four from Mark Cavendish and one from Stephen Cummings – and multiple top-10 finishes throughout the Tour, plus a yellow jersey and a green jersey, Douglas Ryder’s “African Team” once again rode their way into the hearts of many supporters.
Reinardt Janse van Rensburg rode impressively throughout and finished the final day in Paris in 10th place.
Orica-BikeExchange’s Daryl Impey delivered a solid result on stage seven when he summited the Lac de Payolle in second place behind Cummings.
Meintjes and Impey will compete in the men’s road race at the Rio Olympics at Fort Copacabana on August 6.
