James Fourie wants to get the second half of the season under way when he competes in the 115km Knysna Cycle Tour road race on Sunday.
Fourie, who lives in Johannesburg and rides for ProTouch, will be the only member of the team taking part in the race.
“I’m in Eastern Cape at the moment, visiting my parents in Port Alfred,” Fourie told In the Bunch today. “So I thought it would be convenient to go to Knysna to put in some training before the second half of the season.
James Fourie wants to get the second half of the season under way when he competes in the 115km Knysna Cycle Tour road race. Photo: Hayden Brown
“I have been off the bike for a while and only recently started training again. I’d like to get back into it and build my form,” he said.
His last big race was the inaugural Tour de Limpopo in which he finished seventh overall. The last time he took part in the Knysna event was “quite a while ago”.
“The route has changed since I last did it,” Fourie said. “We have to go up a climb this year that was not there last time. I don’t know it, but I think it will suit me.
“The race is also a little longer now. I know the first half, but not the climbing half.
“To figure out how to approach the race I’ll have to see who else is taking part,” he said.
He intends to be patient. “I’d like to win out of a breakaway if I could. For me it is always better to be in a break; it makes the race harder.
“But I may have to wait to see what the others do before I make any move.”
Fourie is not too concerned about having to compete without the assistance of any teammates.
“There could be other teams taking part and that can put one at a disadvantage. But once the riders have done a few climbs they could get a little isolated and then you’re on your own anyway.”
ProTouch will compete in the Jock Classic on July 14, but the team has not been finalised because some riders are still in Europe.
