South African Daryl Impey is motivated to get training prior to making his debut with RadioShack, and will start knuckling down next week.
The former Barloworld rider will be one of the team’s designated sprinters. He got some time away from the bike in order to ensure that he’s fully ready for what will be some busy months ahead.
“The rest period has been great for me,” he said. “I came back to South Africa and have done nothing much except trying improve myself in the gym and play some golf. I enjoy hitting a few balls in the off season and although I can’t play golf really well, I’ve learnt that to enjoy it, one has to enjoy the bad shots too.
“Next week I am heading off to Hazeyview and I will start training for next year. I have taken a little bit less off than last year but I have also not had such a demanding second half of the season and I don’t feel like I need more rest.”
He had a solid season, but one which was curtailed by a bad injury. He won a stage in the Presidential Tour of Turkey, and headed into the last day leading overall. Impey pulled off the final victory, but had a very bad fall after Rabobank rider Theo Bos put him into the barriers on the run-in to the line. Bos was given a two month suspension as a result.
Impey’s crash saw him suffer bad facial injuries and it was September before he returned to racing. He rode several events, then took four weeks away from the bike in order to have a mental break before starting again.
He’ll join an expected 30,000 other riders in the Pick n’ Pay 94.7 Challenge ride on Sunday, taking it at an easy pace with his girlfriend. After that, the training distances and intensities will pick up as he builds form prior to his RadioShack debut in what will be his third professional season.
“I’m looking forward to putting in some good work in November and December before heading back to Europe,” he said. “Time flies back home here in South Africa…let’s hope the weather improves, it is supposed to be summer!”