Promising teen star Jason Oosthuizen will be looking to make a further impact on South African cycling when he competes in the Bestmed Berge en Dale road race on Saturday.
The 18-year-old Barzani Pro Cycling member won the national U23 title at the SA Road Championships in Oudtshoorn earlier this month and came third overall in the elite category.
Now he has a chance to confirm his potential in a race which takes place near his hometown of Krugersdorp in Gauteng.
National U23 road champion Jason Oosthuizen will be aiming to confirm his potential when he competes in the Bestmed Berge en Dale road race at Muldersdrift on the West Rand in Gauteng on Saturday. Photo: Supplied
Presented by Optimum Financial Services, the Berge en Dale starts at the Cradlestone Mall in Muldersdrift on the West Rand, with the feature race being contested over 103km.
Keen to do well, Oosthuizen added that he was committed to playing a role for his team.
“I am a proud member of the Barzani Pro Cycling team and I just want to be as beneficial to my team as possible,” he said.
Oosthuizen, who will be competing in the Tour of Taiwan next month, said he was happy at winning the national U23 road title.
“It was a big build-up to the nationals and achieving something that you have worked for is always a boost for your confidence,” he said.
In his first year in the U23 category he said he was focused on achieving good results, but he also wanted to enjoy the journey.
“I don’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on myself, but I still need to work hard for the future.”
In the long term Oosthuizen said he would love to start the prologue of the Tour de France and race against the best in the world.
For the moment, though, his attention is on the Berge en Dale.
“It is going to be a hard contest,” he said. “For example, I think Reynard Butler is in great form after his recent win at the Ride for Sight [in Boksburg last weekend].”
