Bradley Potgieter, who joined the Vander Group almost two months ago, has embraced a mentoring and management role within the cycling team.
The team was started by Anton van der Merwe in September 2016 with the aim of developing and honing the talents of young cyclists.
Potgieter, 29, who was selected to represent South Africa at the Sharjah Tour and Commonwealth Games earlier this year, said the team was “really well organised”.
“The foundation has been laid and Anton has been doing a lot of work behind the scenes which people do not see,” Potgieter told In the Bunch.
“Logistics and the race calendar are laid out and everything at ground level has been organised. It is being run by a proper professional team, so I am quite happy about that.”
Bradley Potgieter, pictured here in Vander Group attire at the Tour Durban, has embraced a mentoring and management role within the cycling team. Photo: Jetline Action Photo
Potgieter said when he was brought on board there was no clear-cut view as to where the team was heading.
His role in the team was to captain, mentor and help a bit with management. “It was basically just to fill everyone in on how a good set-up should work and to streamline the situation.
“When the team started there was a lot of stuff happening at the same time and I do not think there was a clear view or much insight into how it is in SA cycling and pro racing in general.
“There are many steps to take from under-16 and junior levels to elite and then to make it in Europe. I try to help out with ideas and goals surrounding that.”
He felt the team had a lot potential to grow and progress.
“I think it will begin to start growing really well,” he said. “We just need to settle as a team and focus purely on the racing for the rest of the year.
“We need to focus on who we have to create a strong unit. It will be important to not make too many changes and to grow what we have, while making it stronger.
“By the end of the year we will surely attract a lot of riders wanting to join a professional set-up.”
Van der Merwe has a four-year plan in which he intends to bolster the young riders and enable them to make it into the SA ranks, says Potgieter.
“The main goal is to give the youngsters a pushover into Europe. That is where the team is heading for now.
“There is a lot of potential and many of the riders are still very young – mainly 18- or 19-year-olds – who have not yet been exposed to the high end of racing.
“Tactically there will be a big learning curve for them. Since I joined we have only done two races together and with every race we get another opportunity to grow.”
Potgieter and the team will now focus on the three-day Kremetart Cycle Race in Limpopo from June 8 to 10, a race that he won in 2016.
“We have a full team of six going; one or two guys could not come because they are either studying or have other commitments.
“It will be a full race for the elites this year (175km) instead of different stages in one day, so it will be a big tester for the guys.”
