Chane Jonker, now back with Team Bestmed-ASG, is looking to attack on the South African circuit after eight months of intense racing in America.
Team Bestmed-ASG has re-signed Chane Jonker, who raced in the United States for eight months, and is now looking to challenge the podium in several South African races. Photo: Cycling Direct
Jonker’s focus is on the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope in March next year.
She said that she was going to race to win and would make sure to be in peak condition.
She was also looking to be competitive at the Mpumalanga Tour and national championships, Jonker said.
The former Lost City champion will test her form at the Durban Classic and 94.7 Cycle Challenge, after recovering from the American racing season.
Jonker joined the California based JETCycling team late last year for an eight-month racing stint in the United States.
“Racing in America is quite different to South Africa,” said the 23-year-old all-rounder from Krugersdorp. “Besides the tours, there is a large amount of criterium racing.”
She said that the criteriums required good bike handling and that she had to learn to hold her own in larger fields.
“The circuit racing took some getting used to because it was hard from the gun and shorter.”
Jonker, who grew up in Roodepoort, said a proper warm-up and positioning were very important.
“I really do enjoy the style of racing,” she said, “and I have come to love the excitement that goes along with it.”
Jonker thought the speed they raced and cornered at was really high. The high demands not only improved her technical skills, but made her more savvy.
“I used to get anxious, never wanting anyone to get ahead of me. Now I have more tactical knowledge and have learnt how to read a race.”
She said that she now burnt her matches more cleverly.
The training tied in with the style of racing, Jonker explained.
“We spent fewer hours on the bike, but did more intervals.”
She competed in races such as the Redlands Bicycle Classic, Valley of the Sun stage race, Dana Point Grand Prix and Temecula Grand Prix, in which she placed fourth.
