In 2006 the then relatively unknown rider, Juan van Heerden (MTN-Energade) from Krugersdorp, surprised everybody by making a dash for the finishing line to finish 2nd in the Cape Argus Cycle Race.  

After that hasty performance, Van Heerden was labeled an Argus champion in the making.  However, mainly owing to bad luck, it has not happened yet.  Last year Van Heerden finished fourth.  

This year the big question is whether 14 March will turn out to be ‘5th time lucky’ for Van Heerden.  Judging by his  performances this year, he is certainly one of the pre-race favourites.  

Van Heerden recently won the EP Herald Race in Port Elizabeth and he also finished 2nd in the Ride for Sight Race. The only reason why he has not been seen on a winners’ podium since then, is ‘a lack of air’.  

During the South African Road Championship in Klerksdorp, as well as during the past weekend’s Carnival City Race, Van Heerden punctured at crucial moments. 

These punctures ruined his chances to win.  

But Van Heerden is not despondent.  

“I know I am in good form and all I need is a little bit of luck. I think I have had my share of punctures. Since this year’s serious racing started, I have punctured no less than four times.”  

Next week will be a hectic week for Van Heerden.  He first wants to win the Argus and after that he has set his sights on winning the first stage of the Giro del Capo Tour.  

“The main goal of the MTN-Energade Team is to help Kevin Evans to win the Giro overall. 

But after I studied the profiles of the different stages, I realized that stage one is there for the taking. It suits me to a tee.  

“My strong point as a cyclist is that it does not matter to me whether the race is 90 kilometers or 180 kilometers.  I still have the ability to finish with a strong sprint.”  

Van Heerden is realistic about winning the Argus.  

“It is the one race everybody wants to win, therefore the racing is really hard.  I don’t foresee that there will be a breakaway but, having said that, cycling is a strange sport where the unexpected can, and do, happen at any time. So you have to be wide awake. If there should be a breakaway, I would expect it to happen on the Suikerbossie climb.  

“However, the safe money would be on a bet that the Argus will finish in a bunch sprint of 30 or more riders, all gunning for the win. The challenge for a sprinter is to be wide awake during those final few kilometers and to time his final sprint to perfection.”  

With Nolan Hoffman currently being suspended for the use of an illegal substance and Aran Brown (Medscheme), last year’s champion, battling with a knee problem, it would seem that, apart from Juan Van Heerden, Christoff van Heerden (MTN-Energade’s other Van Heerden, who is the current South African Road Champion) and Malcolm Lange (Medscheme) are the only other credible pre-race favourites.  

The MTN-Energade team actually has three chances to win because Jaco Venter, who is currently representing South Africa at the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia, is also no slouch when it comes to sprinting for the line.  

It is good to have Van Heerden back at his racing best. The past two years had been long and frustrating for him.   Constant knee problems and a bad crash during last year’s Tour Durban, meant that Van Heerden had to spend more time in doctors’ consulting rooms than on his bicycle. A substantial highlight during this time of misery, was his marriage to the special woman in his life.  

Seeing that his bad luck as a cyclist never seems to end, the easy option for Van Heerden, who is a graduate, would have been to call it quits and start a career in the corporate world.  

“That was never an option for me. Cycling is my true passion and I believe that I have not really fulfilled my potential as a road cyclist. I still have definite goals that I want to achieve before I stop racing as a professional.  

“There is also the Tour of Ireland. I have had two top ten finishes in bunch sprints which included riders like England’s Mark Cavendish who is considered to be the best sprinter in the world. I know I can do better. Then there is also the Amashovashova……”