JAYDE JULIUS – My Story – PART 1

by | Apr 6, 2020 | Jayde Julius, Team Protouch

I am a race winner and, natural climber with a very ‘attacking’ style of racing – I capitalise on these talents, when I am racing and, further developing myself as a puncheur-type of rider.

Currently ranked 4th in South Africa, 12th in Africa and 333th in the UCI World rankings, this is my 3rd year riding for the UCI-registered ProTouch Continental Team – the number one team in Africa .

“I continually strive to be a winner. My goal is to always exceed my own personal boundaries and expectations” – Jayde Julius.

I started cycling when I was 13 years old on the track. I won my first race -1 500m scratch – which was a big surprise! I rode away at the start of the race, and just stayed away… this became my racing style, which my followers have delighted in.

I was introduced to the ‘versorger’ of the Belgian National Team – Rik Keyearts. He invited me to a training ride and then he invited to race in Belgium for 2 months. I wanted to race in Europe so, I continued my schooling in Belgium at Ronse Cycling School. In between schooling and racing, I came home to race in South Africa.

As an U16 cyclist, I placed 3rd at the SA National Road Championships and won the U16 National Tour (Stage Race). The following year, I finished 2nd in the U16 BELGIUM CUP – alongside many of the Belgian stars at that time.

I represented South Africa as a Junior in the Youth Olympics, World Championships, Nation Cups in Europe, Switzerland and Spain. I then went on to represented South Africa as an U23 rider at the Richmond World Championships, Tour of Flanders, Cote de Picardie, Giro di Toscana (U23 Nation Cups). More recently I participated in the 2019 African Games SA Team in Morocco, returning home with a Gold Medal in the Team Time Trial and I was part of the team that won a Silver Medal in the Road Race.

In 2019, my team PROTOUCH registered a Continental Team and we started competing alongside top African, Asian, American and European Continental and Pro Continental Teams. In our maiden year we competed in twenty UCI events, in thirteen countries on four continents and raced over 11 500km.

My results of the season include: 1 Sprinters Classification Jersey; 2 Top 10 General Classification Finishes; 8 Top 10 Stage/Classic Finishes; 9 Top 20 Stage/Classic Finishes; Part of the Team that won gold and silver at the African Games.

This year, I am lucky enough to have raced in two UCI Tours – Tropicale Amissa Bongo and Tour de Taiwan as well as the South African National Championships, prior to the Covid-19 Lockdown in South Africa.

I am very proud of my 3rd place at this years South African National Championships, behind NTT Pro Cycling World Tour rider and Winner Ryan Gibbons and, defending champion Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott). I could not have done this without the assistance of my team.

SHARE THIS

RELATED ARTICLES

COMMENTS

0 Comments