Lucky Mlangeni relished his Exxaro special jersey victory alongside teammate Tshepo Tlou at the Cape Epic earlier this year.
Mlangeni said it had been a long time coming as in the past two years his partners had pulled out of the eight-day race, ruling out any opportunity he might have had of winning the jersey.
The Exxaro special jersey is a competition that has been running for six years. In it, previously disadvantaged riders are given a platform and opportunity to make a breakthrough in the sport.
Lucky Mlangeni relished his Exxaro special jersey victory alongside teammate Tshepo Tlou at the Cape Epic earlier this year. Photo: Mark Sampson/Cape Epic/Sportzpics
As part of the prize this year Mlangeni and Tlou will head to a Belgian academy, Bakala Academy, for 10 days during which they will reinforce their cycling aspirations in world-class training and testing facilities.
Mlangeni, 24, who hails from rural Mhluzi in Mpumalanga, said he started cycling in 2005 after being inspired by a passerby rider.
“There was a guy who always used to ride through the location and passed my place,” Mlangeni told In the Bunch. “He inspired me to start cycling.”
As an 11-year-old back then Mlangeni joined a local team, Amashovashova.
“The team gave me everything; they gave me shoes, clothes and they sponsored me a bike.
“I rode on a road bike then though. But that is where I started training and cycling until 2010, when the sponsors pulled out.”
He was then given a lifeline in the sport in 2012 when the Exxaro Mountain Bike Academy emerged.
“Exxaro gave us an opportunity to ride and race. That is where everything began falling into place.
“Cycling has made a big difference in my life, especially coming from a poor family and raised by my single mother.
“It has shaped and changed my life for the better and it has also given me that window of opportunity to study [at the University of Pretoria].
“I enjoy taking part in many local races such as the Trailseeker Series events,” he added.
Mlangeni said he was the strongest rider in the Mpumalanga region, which was how he got his foot in the door at the academy.
He was looking forward to growing more as a cyclist in Belgium, Mlangeni said. “It will offer valuable experience for me,” he said. “I will be learning from top-class cyclists how they live, train and race.
“My future ambitions and goals are definitely to become a pro. I want to make it overseas and race with the big guys in Europe.”
