Recent recovery from a heart condition means Eddie van Heerden will commit himself to his team at Sunday’s 947 Cycle Challenge, but he has not ruled out individual victory in the long term.
Van Heerden, who finished second to Brendon Davids last year, was diagnosed with inflammation of the heart’s left ventricle shortly after his third-place finish at the Tour of Good Hope in March.
The condition meant the RoadCover rider was off the bike for the next five months and could only return to training roughly eight weeks ago.
Eddie van Heerden, who finished third at Tour of Good Hope, will commit himself to his team at the 947 Cycle Challenge. Photo: Robert Ward
After the five-day tour in the Western Cape, Van Heerden reported that he felt fatigued during rides and increasingly ill off it. Even after recovery, his heart rate was irregular and higher than usual.
“I was constantly feeling faint,” he told In the Bunch today. “I went to the doctor and they found my heart was out of rhythm, so they sent me for more tests and it was finally diagnosed in mid-April.”
The diagnosis forced him to spend the bulk of the season in the proverbial cycling gutter, but, now that he is over the worst, the 23-year-old is determined to make the most of what is left.
He returned to racing with a double-header – the National Classic Cycle Race in late-October followed by the inaugural Tshwane Classic – and said he felt his form was steadily improving.
“Hopefully this weekend will be better than my previous two races, but my hopes for this weekend is that the team will do well. My goal is just to help them smash it.”
While the title won’t be on his agenda this year, the Hatfield resident said he would undoubtedly have it on his radar in the years to come.
“I think every pro rider in South Africa would like to win the 947. It’s one of the big ones like the Cape Town Cycle Tour and Amashova, so in the future I would definitely like to get it.”
Van Heerden said Clint Hendricks, who won the Midvaal Cycle Challenge last month, would more than likely be the team’s protected rider.
He said Willie Smit, who signed for WordTour team Katusha-Alpecin recently, would also be on the team roster, but that the African continental champion and triple Lowveld Tour winner was coming off a period of rest after his exploits this season.
Defending champion Brendon Davids, who returned from a successful stint in Australia recently, will also be at the start.
“Brendon will be back and although we haven’t discussed any team plan, he’ll be a contender,” said Van Heerden.
He predicted that the action would start in the final 20km and felt the 21st edition of the 95km race would be decided in that stretch.
“The beginning always has some breakaways to establish, and I’m sure there will be a breakaway within the first 30km, but after last year I don’t think the bunch will let them go.
“The last 20km will be the decider I think – there will be some big action there.”
