After a disappointing UCI Road World Championships, Jason Oosthuizen said he was ready to turn his attention to what was left of the South African season.
He will line up for the Satellite Championship that takes place in Maropeng on Saturday – his second race since returning from worlds in Norway.
The junior ProTouch rider said while he would not rule out going for a win, his first priority would be his teammates.
“Everyone goes to win, but I wouldn’t say I’m going to win. If I get the opportunity I’ll take it, but I’ll go with the aim of helping one of our elites,” he said.
Jason Oosthuizen had a remarkable year, winning his first international race and competing at the UCI Road World Championships in Norway. Photo: Stephen McMahon
“If the benefit of me racing is to help someone, that’s what I’ll do.”
The 18-year-old has lined up for the one-day race once before and, as the second race in which he ever took part, it is somewhat special for him.
“My dad did it with me and a friend. We started in the second last group, with all the mountain bikers. It was quite a cool experience but it wasn’t proper racing then.”
Oosthuizen has come on in leaps and bounds since 2014, and this year will undoubtedly be one to remember.
He got off to a strong start when he won the junior men’s points race at the SA National Track Championships in April. From there he went on to take top spot at the Vets & Junior Tour in June.
Oosthuizen knew then that he was preparing to race overseas, but he by no means could have predicted what soon followed.
The next month he won his first international race – Herselt in Belgium. From there he went on to the Junior Tour of Ireland, where he won one stage, took three second places and one top 10 finish.
He rode his success all the way to the World Championships the following month, where he came crashing back to reality.
He delivered improved times compared to in the past, but he said his results had been far from satisfactory.
The Krugersdorp resident admitted it was “good to get my butt kicked” because it was a reminder of how far he still had to go.
“Although on paper I was strong, I was tired. It was a long season. It’s not a proper excuse, it is what it is, it wasn’t a great race,” he said.
Oosthuizen marked the 21.1km time-trial as his race, but it took one Dutch rider to change the entire game.
“During the time-trial I thought I was going quite well but then in about the last 3km a Dutch guy came past me.
“I think mentally it got me, got into my head, and my confidence just dropped.”
He finished 48th overall and went on to have an equally disappointing road race, where he finished 118th.
“The time we put into this sport is just too much not to be hard on yourself. If you don’t achieve what you want to achieve, if your hard work isn’t good enough, then you have to up your game.”
