Sox Crew: Johan van Zyl

I was born 24 August 2001 and grew up in a small town, Vanrhynsdorp, in Namaqualand. We moved to Vredendal when I started my Primary school years. In 2013, we moved to Wellington when I was in grade 6. I finished my Primary school years in Hugenote Primary in Wellington. For my Secondary school years, I went to HTS Drostdy in Worcester, where cycling is one of their official sports. It was here that I first started to ride a bike.

My first MTB race was a Spur Schools League race at Meerendal Estate, in the winter of 2014, and I came 20th. I was very small and it took me nearly 2 years to get onto the podium for the first time.

From there it started happening for me and in my Junior year, in 2019, I became the SA National XCM champion, 2nd in the African Continental XCO Championships as well as 2nd in the SA National XCO Championships. I was also chosen to represent South Africa in the UCI World Championships in Monte St Anne in Canada.

2020 was a strange year with only a limited number of races. I was able to achieve a 2nd place at the SA National XCO Championships in the U23 category in my first year as an U23 rider.

Which one describes you best:

Plain socks or Pattern socks

Braai or Pizza

Mountain Bike or Run

Cat or Dog

Breakfast or Dinner

Summer or Winter

Bosveld or Beach

Melktert or Malva

Meat or Vegetables

Coffee or Tea