Louis Meintjes has a chance to build on his status as African Cyclist of the Year when he competes in two UCI World Tour events this year.
The 25-year-old South African will skip the Tour de France and concentrate on the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España instead.
Louis Meintjes, pictured here in action last year, sets his sights on two UCI World Tour events this year. Photo: Bettiniphoto
Meintjes, who rode for UAE Team Emirates last year, made headlines when he finished eighth overall in the Tour de France – for the second consecutive year.
He also came second in the category for best young rider of the Tour, just behind Briton Simon Yates.
“The Tour de France was again very special,” Meintjies told In The Bunch this week. “It’s always very tough; for everyone taking part.
“I’m grateful that I had a consistent year. I had very little bad luck; no crashes or illness. It helped me stay focused.
“I was also fortunate that things went tight according to plan in quite a few of my races,” he added.
This year, Meintjes will give the Tour de France a miss. He has, instead, set his sights on the 3 546km Giro D’Italia in May and the 3 221km Vuelta a España in August. Both are 21-stage events.
“It will be good to change my focus,” he said. “I’ve been training hard after the off-season.
“I think the Giro may suit me better. It will be my first real challenge this year. But I also want to do well in the Vuelta and, I hope, in the world championships later that month.”
Meintjes, the highest-ranked South African on the UCI road cycling list, was elated to be adjudged the best cyclist in Africa last year.
“It’s a great feeling to know people appreciate the efforts you put into the sport. It means a lot,” he told In the Bunch.
The Dimension Data rider, who also won the African award in 2013, is the only one to have won it twice.
He feels the standard of cycling on the continent keeps improving by the year. “I haven’t raced in Africa for a year, but I gather from reports cycling is getting more and more popular. It’s great to see.”
The Rustenburg-born rider’s first race of the year will be the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal from February 14 to 18.
