Nicholas Dlamini hopes to reach new heights when he competes in the 810km, six-stage Tour Down Under, which starts in Australia on Tuesday.
Dlamini, who rides for Team Dimension Data, is one of three South Africans in a field of 133 to participate in the Aussie race.
The others are 947 Cycle Challenge champion Daryl Impey (Team Mitchelton-Scott) and DiData teammate Jaco Venter.
Nicholas Dlamini, pictured here in front, hopes to reach new heights at the Tour Down Under when it starts on Tuesday. Photo: Matteo Marchi
Dlamini made headlines when he won the King of the Mountains title in the Baby Giro in June last year.
The Tour Down Under would be a good opportunity to show his worth and gain experience, he said today.
“There will be so many world-class riders that I’m not sure what to expect. But it’s an ideal chance to measure myself against some of the world’s best.”
The race, which starts in Port Adelaide and ends with a 90km street-circuit dash in Adelaide City on the last day, would be a big step-up for him, Dlamini said.
“I’ve competed in many races, but in nothing close to this level. I’d like to give it my best shot and see what I can come away with. It will be super important at the start of 2018.”
The Cape Town rider said he had put in the hard yards to prepare for the event.
“I’ve done all the work I was supposed to do. But it could also be a mental thing; I’ll have to ride with utmost pride.
“It’s one of the best organised races on the calendar and I’m proud just to be part of it.”
The conditions may favour him slightly, the 22-year-old believes. “The weather could be similar to ours and the route won’t be too harsh.
“It won’t be anything like the [Baby] Giro, so I should be able to adapt more easily to the conditions.”
Dlamini, whose last race was at the Münsterland Giro in Germany three months ago, will compete alongside DiData teammates Venter, Tom Slegter (Netherlands), Mark Renshaw (Australia), Lachlan Morton (Australia), Ben O’Connor (Australia) and Scott Davies (Great Britain).
“It will be a challenge to fit in,” he said. “The race will go by quickly and it could be stressful to work well with the other riders.
“The standard of the competition is really high, so it will be important to assess each stage.
“We [Team DiData] have been training in Australia for more than a week and there is enough experience in the team to call the shots.
“We’ve been checking out and riding on some sections of the route, but things always change on race day,” he added.
