Top cycling coach Elrick Kulsen has taken over the role of track director after recently being appointed by Cycling South Africa.
The post became vacant after the previous director Kurt Begemann returned to the United States of America, which resulted in Kulsen applying for the position.
“The appointment is quite a challenge, especially with the current position that CSA is in,” said Kulsen.
“I am however very positive that we will be able to overcome the issues and make track cycling as attractive as it was in the past.”
Elrick Kulsen has been appointed as track director by Cycling South Africa. Photo: Facebook/Elrick Kulsen
Kulsen felt he was well suited to the position as track cycling in Paarl was part of his upbringing. He raced from the age of 12 and retired as a master.
“Paarl has been known as the mecca of track cycling over the years. I have also been coaching and administering track cycling for a long period.”
He said the most important aspect he would focus on would be to get the top riders and up-and-coming riders exposed to as much international racing as possible.
“Hence our plans to take a youth group to race in Europe for at least three weeks per year.
“Before you can start thinking of winning races we need to get riders in a position where they can compete at the top level.”
Kulsen felt a major improvement in the quality of local racing was needed.
“The likes of Nolan Hoffman, Clint Hendricks and Steven van Heerden are all riders who honed their skills in local league racing in their provinces and should be lured back to the track – not just to compete at national champs but to race their local regional and provincial leagues.
“The plan is also to have criteria that a rider will need to adhere to in order to race at the national championships.”
In the long run, Kulsen hoped to see track rider numbers increase along with competitiveness on the world scene.
“I want to see us back to the days when JP van Zyl and Nolan were winning world championships and world cup medals for SA.”
What excites Kulsen about track cycling in the country is the talented youth.
“We have youth riders who are currently displaying more potential than what a lot of previous stars of track cycling had.”
He feels what makes the sport unique in the country is that those involved are still prepared to use the old long tracks to race on and to produce great racing.
“We only have one international-standard track in SA, but looking at the development taking place in Gauteng, KZN, Western and Eastern Cape gives me goose bumps.”
Kulsen has also noticed elements in international track cycling he would like to incorporate locally.
“I’ve noticed that for example a country like Belgium, which is cycling mad, is concentrating a lot more on the development of endurance track riders.
“The reason for this is that their endurance riders will also do road racing. If you look at riders like Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas, Marcel Kittel and others, all came from a track background.”
