I love Capricorn. My family’s still there, and whenever I’m home I get to see all the friends I grew up with.

What does it take to stay in peak condition as a cyclist, in your opinion? Eating healthily and staying focused. Because training is just a part of it all.

What are your strongest cycling attributes?

Riding up short, steep climbs, time- trialling, and also a bit of sprinting.

What are you going to have to do to make the DiData team for the 2018 Tour de France?

Train hard, and co- operate with my teammates. Being a good team player is as important as being fit and strong.

Do you still live in Capricorn when you’re not racing?

Yes, I love Capricorn. My family’s still there, and whenever I’m home I get to see all the friends I grew up with.

You’ve been performing well for a few years now – how do you stay on top of things?

I haven’t really changed anything. I’ve just kept my feet on the ground, and stayed focused and keen to improve, every single day!

What are you hoping to achieve next year?

I want to improve on my performances, getting as much experience as I can get. The aim is to grow as much as I can as a rider.

Who were your cycling heroes growing up?

I never had a specific cycling hero really, as my background is running. So actually, my hero is trail runner Ryan Sandes and his wife Vanessa. They have played a huge role in my career.

What are you most looking forward to when you hit the road as part of the DiData pro team next year?

Meeting the whole team, and just spending time with them soaking up the experience. I’m also excited to learn new things from this level of racing, which I'm in turn hoping to use to take me to the next level.

And what are you most nervous about?

I’m afraid I may do something wrong in a race, or not do what I’m supposed to do... by mistake, of course. There’s no room for error at this level and It’s really nerve- wracking for me, because I always want to do things perfectly.

What can the cycling world expect from Nic Dlamini in the future?

Nothing special! (laughs) But on a serious note, definitely good results. I’m going to train even harder next year, and try to be more consistent. And I definitely want to try to win a bike race on the big stage.