The director of the Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) at the North-West University (NWU), Prof Pieter Kruger, applied his knowledge of sport science and performance psychology brilliantly in winning the 20 km points race during the South African Track Cycling Championships at the Bellville Velodrome. He had a very successful week riding in the masters’ category too and claimed three silver medals (in the individual pursuit, team sprint and team pursuit races) as well as a bronze medal in the 10 km scratch race.
Prof Kruger, who earned national junior colours for cycling during the 1990s, only got back on a track bicycle in the past six months. He participated in the Gauteng Summer League events and provincial championships in preparation for the national championships. Track cycles differ radically from road and mountain bikes as they have very narrow high-pressure tyres, only have a single gear ratio and neither a free wheel nor brakes. Riding in close proximity to other riders can be nerve-racking and very dangerous.
The 20 km points race consists of 80 laps around a 250 m concrete track and riders earn points for their sprint position after every 10th lap, which makes it a very challenging event. This risk became a reality during the setup lap (just before the starter’s gun), when Prof Kruger made contact with the cyclist ahead of him, and slid off his bike. In the process he damaged his back wheel, but was fortunate that his teammate, Dana Schutte from CycloDNA, was on hand to replace the wheel swiftly with a spare one in time for the starter’s gun. Prof Kruger said afterwards that his cycling skinsuit had also been damaged, but that the adrenaline rush from the incident was actually beneficial, as it sharpened his senses and motivated him to give his all during the race.
He was able to break away with two other riders after about 30 laps and managed to lap the bunch, before making another two-man breakaway during the 58th lap, again lapping the entire bunch. He managed to accumulate enough points during the eight sprints to win the race and earn the gold medal.
The NWU CHHP-sponsored cycling team, consisting of Pieter Kruger, Dana Schutte, Ruan Smit, Gerrit Janse van Rensburg and Ryno Schutte, had a very successful SA championships, overall claiming three gold, five silver and two bronze medals. Prof Kruger said: “With a healthy cycling culture and community in Potch and great support from the NWU Centre for Health and Human Performance our team could perform optimally at the national championships. We try to apply the same science and advice we give to our clients, so it is important that we practise what we preach. It has been a very tough competition, but we are pleased with the results we have managed to obtain.”
