Thokozani Mahlangu is prepared for the challenges he’ll face in the gruelling Tour du Rwanda from Sunday, despite having had to overcome a recent traumatic experience.
Mahlangu, from the Proud Beginners’ Cycling, was invited to join ProTouch as a guest rider for the Rwandan tour.
It was a “very last-minute” call-up for Mahlangu, he said, especially after he had to get over being robbed at gunpoint in Johannesburg last week.
“I was robbed and held at gunpoint after training last week Monday,” Mahlangu told In the Bunch today.
“After riding, I would normally go for a run to train my other muscles. That is when a group of guys approached and apprehended me.
“I’ve learnt to take life more seriously after that. I didn’t train for about four days, simply because I was too traumatised and scared to go for another ride.”
Thokozani Mahlangu (pictured) is prepared for the challenges he’ll face in the gruelling Tour du Rwanda from Sunday, despite having had to overcome a recent traumatic experience. Photo: Supplied
The muggers stole his phone, the money he had on him and even chips and biscuits he had just bought for his children, Mahlangu recalled.
Mahlangu, from Pretoria, only received the call-up to the ProTouch side three days ago so he had to adjust quickly and prepare for the Rwandan tour, deemed the “toughest on the African continent”.
He was, however, grateful for the opportunity. “It is a privilege for me to be here in Rwanda,” he said shortly after the team’s arrival this morning.
“I really have to thank Bonga [Ngqobane], ProTouch and Proud Beginners’ for this opportunity. It will really help me [psychologically].
“I needed some time out to get mentally fresh. The tour will play a big role after what happened last week. I’m much more relaxed now.”
The team, which includes Mahlangu, ProTouch riders Jayde Julius, James Fourie and Myles van Musschenbroek and other guest rider Calvin Beneke from AC/DC Luso, has not yet assigned specific roles to the riders.
With Rwanda being landlocked, the eight-day race starts at altitude on Sunday and this will increase as the stages wear on.
“We are planning to first just see how it goes. We are still going to have a discussion around the team’s approach to the race,” Mahlangu said.
“For now, we just want to train together and get used to the altitude and take it from there.
“I did two races before I came to Rwanda and in both of them I finished within the bunch, so I can think I can do well here.”
Mahlangu felt the large amount of climbing in the race could play slightly in his favour. He was cautiously optimistic.
“The route is definitely more uphill and my body generally allows me to do well on climbs,” he said.
“It should suit me. This is more my territory. However, I was told the climbs are very long, about one kilometre long at a time and I’m not used to that.
“But I’m a fighter, I love the challenge and I was born to do this. My mind is strong now and it is not impossible to achieve this.”
Despite being one of the team’s guest riders, Mahlangu said he had gelled well with his teammates, describing them as “cool guys”. He added that the team had created a “nice environment”.
