HUNTER TARGETS ANOTHER TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE WIN FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Last summer Robert Hunter became the first African to win a stage of cycling's biggest race: the Tour de France. The 31-year-old South African describes his stage 11 victory - from Marseille to Montpellier - as the greatest achievement of his career. And he will be back in France trying to reproduce his success when this year's Tour begins on July 5 in Brest.
Johannesburg-born Hunter, who specialises in sprinting and rides for Italian team Barloworld, is pleased with how preparations are going this season, and has set his sights on another stage win. His biggest target is to earn the coveted maillot vert (or green jersey), handed to the rider who has gained the most sprinting points over the 21 stages.
As well as that fantastic victory in south France last year, in his decade of being a professional Hunter's highlights include winning stages at the 1999 and 2001 Vuelta a España, the overall title at the 2004 Tour of Qatar, and the sprint classification at the 2004 Tour de Suisse.
This season Hunter has shown he is in good touch having already won a handful of races. Those victories include two stages of Intaka Tech World's View Challenge and the overall title in the Cape Argus Pick'n Pay, both in his homeland.
"Everything is going well this season," Hunter smiles. "I have won a few races and I feel I am coming into good form in time for the Tour.
"One of my biggest goals was to win a stage on the Tour and last year I realised that the possibilities of winning stages were still very much attainable.
"It felt really good to win the stage. In cycling terms to win a stage at the Tour de France is the top thing you can do - everyone really wants to win one. It was the biggest achievement of my career so far. When I did it last year, having been a professional for a decade, I was ecstatic about it.
"My plan is to win another stage and my condition is coming good. I am likely to me in my top condition at the right time - like I was last year. It's never that easy to win though - there are another 40 sprinters hoping to do the same thing and there are only six or seven sprinting occasions."
When the European season is in full swing - "from about February to September" - Hunter finds it almost impossible to return to South Africa, though in the close-season he spends most of the time at his home in Johannesburg.
He will relish his next long visit home when the season concludes, as his wife of three years, Claudia, is expected their first child. Despite impending fatherhood, Hunter - named South African cyclist of the year five times from 2001-2007 - plans to continue riding professionally for another few years yet.
He continues: "It's very exciting that Claudia is pregnant. She's not at all into cycling at all! And I love going back to my home when I can.
"I am happy that I can look back on my career and I have achieved most of the goals I set out to achieve. There are some things left but hopefully I can achieve those before I retire. I want to win more stages of the Tour and win the green jersey.
"I would also like to win a stage in the Giro d'Italia - that is the one big tour that I have not won a stage in. Whatever happens I have had a decent career and I am happy with it.
"This year I feel strong enough and I will keep going for as long as it feels good. For the next three or four years I am sure I will still be mentally up for it.
"Cycling is a growing sport in Africa, and in South Africa in particular. The awards are great to receive and make me very proud. There are not many African riders racing in Europe yet, but it won't be long before they are."
Last summer Robert Hunter became the first African to win a stage of cycling's biggest race: the Tour de France. The 31-year-old South African describes his stage 11 victory - from Marseille to Montpellier - as the greatest achievement of his career. And he will be back in France trying to reproduce his success when this year's Tour begins on July 5 in Brest.
Johannesburg-born Hunter, who specialises in sprinting and rides for Italian team Barloworld, is pleased with how preparations are going this season, and has set his sights on another stage win. His biggest target is to earn the coveted maillot vert (or green jersey), handed to the rider who has gained the most sprinting points over the 21 stages.
As well as that fantastic victory in south France last year, in his decade of being a professional Hunter's highlights include winning stages at the 1999 and 2001 Vuelta a España, the overall title at the 2004 Tour of Qatar, and the sprint classification at the 2004 Tour de Suisse.
This season Hunter has shown he is in good touch having already won a handful of races. Those victories include two stages of Intaka Tech World's View Challenge and the overall title in the Cape Argus Pick'n Pay, both in his homeland.
"Everything is going well this season," Hunter smiles. "I have won a few races and I feel I am coming into good form in time for the Tour.
"One of my biggest goals was to win a stage on the Tour and last year I realised that the possibilities of winning stages were still very much attainable.
"It felt really good to win the stage. In cycling terms to win a stage at the Tour de France is the top thing you can do - everyone really wants to win one. It was the biggest achievement of my career so far. When I did it last year, having been a professional for a decade, I was ecstatic about it.
"My plan is to win another stage and my condition is coming good. I am likely to me in my top condition at the right time - like I was last year. It's never that easy to win though - there are another 40 sprinters hoping to do the same thing and there are only six or seven sprinting occasions."
When the European season is in full swing - "from about February to September" - Hunter finds it almost impossible to return to South Africa, though in the close-season he spends most of the time at his home in Johannesburg.
He will relish his next long visit home when the season concludes, as his wife of three years, Claudia, is expected their first child. Despite impending fatherhood, Hunter - named South African cyclist of the year five times from 2001-2007 - plans to continue riding professionally for another few years yet.
He continues: "It's very exciting that Claudia is pregnant. She's not at all into cycling at all! And I love going back to my home when I can.
"I am happy that I can look back on my career and I have achieved most of the goals I set out to achieve. There are some things left but hopefully I can achieve those before I retire. I want to win more stages of the Tour and win the green jersey.
"I would also like to win a stage in the Giro d'Italia - that is the one big tour that I have not won a stage in. Whatever happens I have had a decent career and I am happy with it.
"This year I feel strong enough and I will keep going for as long as it feels good. For the next three or four years I am sure I will still be mentally up for it.
"Cycling is a growing sport in Africa, and in South Africa in particular. The awards are great to receive and make me very proud. There are not many African riders racing in Europe yet, but it won't be long before they are."
Labels: cycling, Robert Hunter, Tour de France
