After his UCI Road World Champs let-down earlier this year junior cyclist Damon Fouchee has made his mark at recent events, finishing among the elites in three of his last four races.
Fouchee, 17, who attends Hoërskool Garsfontein in Pretoria, was originally selected to represent South Africa alongside Rickardo Broxham at the world champs in September.
He was only notified at the last minute that his selection had been withdrawn due to a fine he reportedly received at the national road champs in February.
Cian Leveridge subsequently replaced him for the world champs.
After his UCI Road World Champs let-down earlier this year junior cyclist Damon Fouchee (front) has made his mark at recent events. Photo: Supplied
Fouchee, who rides for Vandergroup, has made up for that disappointment with some consistent performances of late.
He said it all started at the Lowveld Tour in August where he finished ninth overall and was the first junior home.
He placed sixth overall at the Spring Heritage Race at the end of September, before enjoying his season highlight by finishing seventh overall (and first junior) at the Tshwane Classic at the weekend.
“I’m quite happy at the moment [with my form]. I realised after the Lowveld Tour that I can stick with the elites and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Fouchee told In the Bunch today.
Experienced cyclist Bradley Potgieter joined Vandergroup in April this year as a mentor and leader to the young riders in the team.
Fouchee originally took up a domestique role within the team, where he was told to represent the team in the breaks at the various races.
“That helped me to get those results,” he said. “But to be honest, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without our team captain, Bradley.
“As a domestique, I tried to learn as much as I could from him. I aimed to follow him in the races and due to him I was able to make it into the break each time.”
The Tshwane Classic, he said, was one of his goal races of the season as it occurred in his hometown.
He was delighted with his achievements. “My goal was originally to finish in the top five overall. I didn’t quite get that, but I’m quite satisfied with seventh.
“To me it felt like a top-five, so I’m happy.”
Fouchee said he was a relatively new member of his team and continued to learn and grow while being part of the fold.
“I’m in the process of working with them, and the team are amazing. The riders learn a lot from each other and I can see they have top goals.
“We are working together to achieve those goals and I hope I have a role to play in those achievements.”
Looking ahead to next season, and after the world champs ordeal of two months ago, Fouchee said he hoped to qualify for the national team in next year’s edition.
“I would love to represent my country over there,” he said. “I would also like to do a few races in Europe, including the Junior Tour of Ireland.
“Down the line I would like to learn as much as I can and develop myself into a pro cyclist one day.”
He and the team are next set to take part in the 947 Cycle Challenge on November 18, where he said he hoped to help out as much as possible.
