YELLOW FEVER
Impey's brilliant Tour de France
DARYL Impey’s coup in winning the yellow jersey after the sixth stage of the Tour de France this week was as big a moment for his father, Tony, as it was for his son.
On Friday there was a buzz of excitement at Tony Impey Cycles, in Johannesburg’s eastern suburb of Bedfordview, as well-wishers came in with messages of support. The phone rang nonstop.
“It is still unbelievable — it’s like a dream. To see your son put on the yellow jersey is, like: Wow!” was Tony’s response.
Daryl, 28, is the first African to lead the world’s most famous cycling race.
“This is something that we always hoped for, rather than expected. He has excelled beyond our dreams,” said Tony, himself a former cyclist.
Impey’s climb to top of the overall Tour de France standings did come as a surprise to those in the know as his role in the Australian Orica-GreenEdge team was to provide backup in the sprints.
Also in a jolly mood was the shop’s bike mechanic, Jabulani Ngwenya, who prides himself in having played a part in Impey’s path in cycling from a young age.
“I helped him start learning to ride a bike at the age of four. I have been his bike mechanic from that time. I cannot describe how proud I am of him. I’m over the moon. I always said to him that he was ‘Armstrong’ Impey,” Ngwenya said, in reference to disgraced former Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.
Cycling was not Impey’s first love. According to his father, he was an avid and promising soccer player before shifting his focus to cycling when he turned 12.
Even then, he preferred mountain biking to the road.
“He was not a bad little footballer. We supported him in any sport he participated in. Once he decided he was finished with football, he started mountain biking, before progressing onto the road as a junior cyclist,” Tony said.
Impey snr said his son shared the concern of other riders in SA about safety for road cyclists. Many have been knocked down and some killed.
“Cycling grows on you, that is why it is a popular sport in SA. We just wish the roads were a bit safer for us. It’s a big concern and it’s why there are more people doing mountain biking now than road cycling. We really do need cycle lanes,” said Tony.
He said of Team Orica-GreenEdge: “Most of them are very young and there are those who have done the Tour de France a few times, such as Stuart O’Grady. They are such a unit as a team. They actually have a song that they sing — an ‘all for one, and one for all’ type of song. They have each other’s backs.”
Does Daryl have what it takes to win the tour overall?
“Maybe not,” his dad said candidly. “He wasn’t really in the tour to get the jersey. His focus was on sprints, not climbing hills; though he can climb quite well. The longer hills will be his downfall — he hasn’t trained for that.”
Tony is looking forward to joining his son for the last two days of the tour and spending another two weeks with him in Europe. After the tour, Daryl will take a week off before racing in Spain’s 227km San Sebastian Classic.
To see your son put on the yellow jersey is, like: Wow! This is something that we always hoped for, rather than expected. He has excelled beyond our dreams