{"id":24980,"date":"2013-11-04T15:56:07","date_gmt":"2013-11-04T13:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/2013\/11\/francois-geldenhuys-earns-world-tour-spot\/"},"modified":"2013-11-04T15:56:07","modified_gmt":"2013-11-04T13:56:07","slug":"francois-geldenhuys-earns-world-tour-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/francois-geldenhuys-earns-world-tour-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"Francois Geldenhuys earns World Tour Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span><\/p>\n

Port Elizabeth<\/a>-based Francois Geldenhuys earned his spot at the 2014 UCI World Cycling Tour when he clinched a double victory in the Msunduzi Road Challenge just outside Pietermaritzburg last weekend.<\/p>\n

Geldenhuys, who rides for local club Shukuma-NMMU<\/a>, won the time trial in the 30-34 age category and the overall road race in the only African qualifier for the international event.<\/p>\n

He will take part in both disciplines at the UWCT Finals, which start in Slovenia at the end of August.<\/p>\n

Previously known as the UCI Masters Road World Championships, the competition will see the world\u2019s best amateur riders competing for the coveted rainbow jerseys in the various age categories.<\/p>\n

\u201cI only found out about this qualifying event just over a month ago,\u201d said Geldenhuys, who returned to competitive cycling in August last year after a three-year hiatus due to injury and work commitments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been doing a lot of mountain biking in the winter months, so I immediately went back onto the road, which is my favourite discipline, and started training specifically for the Msunduzi race.\u201d<\/p>\n

While mountain biking had increased his strength and power on the bike, Geldenhuys said he had had to refocus on his speed work.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually just went for the road race but thought I\u2019d do the time trial as well. I knew, having good form, I would do reasonably well and if I had a good result it would make me feel more comfortable for the road race.\u201d<\/p>\n

The surprise double victory gave the 30-year-old, who raced semi-professionally for the now-defunct Team Omega, the confidence boost he needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very confident that I can improve a lot more leading up to the worlds. Now I\u2019ve got a year\u2019s base behind me and I can just build on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geldenhuys, who gained his national track colours as a junior, said the time trial would be his main goal in Slovenia.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I train for that, it will give me good form for the road race anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

He previously also represented SA in a tri-nations test against Belgium and Greece.<\/p>\n

Geldenhuys said he was in some of the best form of his career after also winning the Stonehouse Capital Zuurberg Mountain Bike Challenge and Makro Bestmed Cycle Tour this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last three months have come together nicely. Working in the cycle industry gives you a lot of time to ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said equipment and nutrition sponsors Coimbra Cycles and Isostar had helped his performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the support from Shukuma-NMMU has been very good. They covered all my costs going up to the race this weekend and if it wasn\u2019t for them I wouldn\u2019t be able to get to all the bigger races.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Francois<\/a><\/p>\n

Francois Geldenhuys<\/p>\n