James Fourie was happy to make a substantial contribution to the South African ProTouch-branded team that recently competed in the gruelling eight-stage Tour du Rwanda.
The tour served as the first stepping-stone in ProTouch’s quest to register a Continental team next year and the team as a whole exceeded their expectations, Fourie said.
Fourie was the highest-placed South African on the general classification standings, finishing 15th overall.
James Fourie (pictured) was happy to make a substantial contribution to the South African ProTouch-branded team that recently competed in the gruelling eight-stage Tour du Rwanda. Photo: ProTouch Sports
The team enjoyed four podium finishes over the eight days – Fourie was third in stage one, Calvin Beneke third in stage three and Jayde Julius second in stage five and third in stage six.
“Before we left for Rwanda we did not think we would be able to achieve that,” Fourie told In the Bunch today.
ProTouch co-founder and sport director Tony Harding said before the tour that their objective was to merely “test the waters”, adding that he was “optimistic, but also realistic” about his team’s chances.
Fourie, who also rides locally for ProTouch, felt the team had made a statement.
“I was initially really happy with my third place on the first day,” he said. “That result put me in a good position and in good stead ahead of the rest of the tour and I think it did for the rest of the team as well.
“It gave me a lot of confidence for the following stages. Then Calvin and Jayde also reaped the rewards later on.”
He said he learnt some valuable lessons from the tour, which comprised a total of 32 climbs as the race ascended with every stage.
“This was the first eight-day tour I have ever done; the longest before was four days,” Fourie said. “Learning to manage the fatigue and knowing which days were right to spend the pennies and which ones weren’t was important.
“The climbs were very long and fast and the locals knew the routes quite well, which played into their hands.”
The tough challenges throughout the race were helped by exuberant crowds lining the roads, he added.
“The thousands of people and supporters on the sides of the roads, cheering us on, made the race.”
He said the Rwandan teams were the ones to watch. “The level was really high and the Rwandans were always the ones to beat.
“There were also some strong French and Swiss riders, so it was a solid level of racing.
“The Ethiopian team were strong, specifically on the uphills and climbs. For us it was more about getting stage results rather than focusing too much on the GC.
“The team dynamics kept changing throughout the tour because GC contention was out.
“Everyone knew what to do individually as we focused merely on stage wins.”
Fourie said he surprised himself at the tour, having entered the race expecting to play a supporting role for a GC rider.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” he said. “I knew there was a lot of training required, but there aren’t many areas in South Africa over winter to train on long climbs.”
Fourie added that one of their main challenges during their stay was to closely watch what they ate as “we were in a foreign country”, meaning they had to stay away from spiced foods and meats.
He and the team will now turn their focus to the Cycle4Cansa Road Classic taking place on August 26.
