Former professional cyclist, MC and commentator Johnny Koen has experienced nothing in cycling over the past 50 years that compares to the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the sport.
Johnny Koen has experienced nothing in cycling that compares to the impact of the coronavirus. Photo: Owen Lloyd
The 62-year-old, also known as South Africa’s “voice of cycling”, says a definite marker on cycling’s “bad map” were the doping scandals of the “Armstrong Affair” involving Lance Armstrong.
“Our generation has been blessed not to have gone through a world war, which I regrettably have to liken this situation to,” said Koen, who was one of the country’s first professionals.
Koen believes Covid-19 has strangled the sport of cycling, if not put an end to it completely, for the current year.
“All events have been cancelled right up until June, including the Olympic Games, with the Tour de France being a very doubtful starter,” he said at the time of the interview. It has recently been announced that the Tour has been moved to late August, with the other two World Tours taking place after it, the pandemic permitting.
But Koen isn’t optimistic. Should the Tour de France be held, he said, “After that, we have the possibility of the Vuelta in one of the worst coronavirus-affected countries in the world [Spain]. No, 2020 is a write-off, sadly.
“Cycling is however just a tiny piece of what is being affected by the dreadful virus. The world is on hold and I fear this may be our generation’s version of a world war.”
He added that while the virus had mercifully been on a much smaller scale thus far in SA than in several other countries, it had had its effect.
He said the “very necessary, highly sensible and understandable national lockdown” had, nevertheless “served to decimate most of the cycling calendar here, as it has done worldwide”.
“Cycling in SA is probably even worse hit as we are not in a great space at this time, with a lack of international success, loss of major sponsorships and race entry numbers shrinking during 2019 – although the latter had again started to show an upward trend during the opening events of 2020.
“Race organisers of post-July events are all offering ‘money-back’ entry options for those considering entering those events, so they are not certain either,” said Koen, who claimed 300 race wins, including two national road titles in the ’80s.
He says while the pandemic was 100 per cent negative, with little prospect of opportunities, there were still a few.
“Especially for essential service providers to remain active in business, as we at Velotex are doing, by way of producing our AeroMasks in reply to the global shortage of all masks at this time.
“The planet has/is also enjoying a wonderful respite from what we do to it on a daily basis. And, of course, we have all learnt that it is possible to work from home.”
Koen also fully supported President Cyril Ramaphosa’s three-week lockdown, which was extended by a further two weeks since the interview.
“I do believe though that individual exercise should have been allowed instead of being banned as it is by all accounts a vitally good measure of defence against the possible effects of the virus.
“All people should also be expected to wear masks, as doing so has to provide some form of a barrier against infected saliva droplets and exhaled moisture vapours cross-infecting others.
“It is accordingly mind-boggling as to how many people in public jobs – chain stores, bakeries, petrol stations and others – are not wearing masks during this lockdown period.”
Regarding the general feeling among cyclists and the cycling world, he said strangely, or possibly understandably, it had been one of acceptance and co-operation when in any other situation there would have been loads of dissent.
“But you have to feel for the pros, Olympians and otherwise. This cannot be easy to handle.
“The world, and SA in particular, is filled with tough unrelenting people – cyclists being especially so – so once the lockdown is lifted we need to simply start again and get things going, remembering that what is over is in the past.”
