The L.A Dosage meets Team Dimension Data's Nicholas Dlamini

Dlamini flies the South African flag high by becoming first black South African to wear leader's jersey in cycling

Nicholas Dlamini|Dimension Data

Nicholas Dlamini is a cyclist for Team Dimension Data who hails from Capricorn Park township close to Muizenburg in Cape Town. Last month, he got the opportunity to showcase his talent on the world stage when he got to compete in the Tour Down Under with his team Dimension Data. 

This was to be an unforgettable memory when he became a part of the tour squad and rewriting history as the first black South African to wear a leader's jersey at a World Tour race. The race happened through nature reserve of Humburg Scrub just outside Adelaide, South Australia. Dlamini out-powered some strong contenders on that day, the likes of Will Clarke of EF Education First and Scott Bowden of UniSA, both Australian cyclists. Although he may have the jersey days later as the competition became tough, he had already made his mark on the world stage and an even bigger name back home in South Africa. 

Recently, The L.A Dosage got the opportunity to meet the man-of-the-moment who had just come back into the country to discuss about his obvious win in Australia, his background, his love for cycling and his future plans. This is how the interview panned out on a very hot day in the busy Vida Cafe coffee shop in Green Point. He walked into the coffee shop with his bike and all his training gear, showing that the work just never stops. 

The L.A Dosage: Welcome back to sunny Cape Town and thank you for joining us. Take us through your background. Who is Nicholas Dlamini and how did he become the young man that he is today? 

Nicholas Dlamini: Thank you! I was born and bred in Capricorn Park, a small township just down Muizenburg in Cape Town. That is where I actually got into cycling, when I was about 12 years old. My family still lives there; it consists of my mother and my siblings - a twin sister, an older sister, and a brother which makes four of us. I grew up with my mother, although I still see my father every now and then. I can definitely say I have a close relationship with my mother because she has been there for us through everything anyway. We have never lacked anything with her. She has played both roles of mother and father and I admire her for that. 

The L.A Dosage: How did you get into cycling? Has it always been an interest of yours from when you were young? 

Nicholas Dlamini: I have a background of running from high school. I enjoyed it a lot at the time and that's when I started mixing it up with cycling. I came to an age where I had to focus on one sport and I was seventeen at the time (making this decision). I went with cycling because its more fun and you get to go almost anywhere you want with your bike, whereas running only gets you to a certain point.

The L.A Dosage: When did you know that cycling could be a possible career?

Nicholas Dlamini: Basically everything began at 17, when I made the decision to just focus on cycling. I have mentors that I always talk to before making decisions, and they've got my best interests at heart so they also contributed into the making of my decision. I knew I could make it despite the challenges that would come my way. I had to work hard anyway to get to where I am.

Nicholas Dlamini|Dimension Data

The L.A Dosage: Tell us about getting into Team Dimension Data? How did that happen and how has it been since then? 

Nicholas Dlamini: Dimension Data is only based on the road (road cycling). I started with what's known as the development team back in 2015; we were still called MTN Qhubeka back then. For three years, I'd been with the development team and I made the step up this year into the senior team. It was a phenomenal feeling getting there obviously through hardwork and everyone wants to be there; making it into the highest level of cycling is really incredible.

The L.A Dosage: You joined them (Team DiData) last year for Qhubeka's World Tour team? Take us through this moment. 

Nicholas Dlamini: Last year, I did what is called the stage ride. You get to spend three months with the World Tour team but you still ride for whichever team you are riding for, at the same time having the opportunity to get to know these guys and do a couple races with them; that's what I did last year. Every rider is different in terms of their preparations but it all boils down to consistency, and commitment. There is a combination of many things really. You need to be hard working, talented and dedicated. We spend an average of about 6 hours on the road everyday - that's the amount of work you need to put in to be able to compete in such a competition.

The L.A Dosage: This is a tough sport and takes a lot of hardwork and endurance. What keeps you motivated and mentally strong? 

Nicholas Dlamini: I think doing the sport for a purpose instead of riding to make money out of it and being a role model, knowing that you have to lead by example is very important. You think about the people that you have left back home especially from the townships. There are a lot of kids that want to cycle as well. For me, going out with my bike has a purpose although I really enjoy it - the better I become, the more opportunities it creates for them to want to cycle as well.

The L.A Dosage: Being a young athlete such as yourself, do you ever feel that you under a lot of pressure to be a role model?

Nicholas Dlamini: I never feel pressure to be a role model to be quite honest, coming from the township no one is perfect, you can only do your best. People need to udnerstand that we all make mistakes, but we should always strive to do our best in everything that we do.

The L.A Dosage: What are some of the challenges you have faced so far since you turned pro? 

Nicholas Dlamini: Challenges? That's a bit of a tough one. I suppose when you turn professional you have the pressures from the team. We are all contracted riders so the challenge you have is that if you have for example; a two year contract you basically have one year to show yourself. A season is rolled into six months so you have that period to prove yourself as a rider so I think that's the main challenge for me.

The L.A Dosage: How has it felt like competing on some of these stages with older, seasoned professionals and remembering how young you are? 

Nicholas Dlamini: I have lots of respect for the older, seasoned professionals and cycling is a sport of the world. Someone has to win in the end. They are great professionals in the team and for me I use them as a learning experience, where I can learn from to improve my riding and learn as much as I can at the same time.

The L.A Dosage: How do you cope with these competitions? How do you get your mind ready to compete conaidering all the pressure that may surround you?

Nicholas Dlamini: It's nerve-wrecking to be honest competing on some of these stages, there are always a lot of spectators too who want to take pictures and there's not much you can do about it. As a professional, you always have to put yourself in a zone when you are about to go into a competition and, making sure that you know that you have to be perform no matter what. I go out there knowing that I have done the necessary preparations and on the day I can only do my best. It all boils down to understanding the race (about being able to keep calm when facing a competition) and I understand the upcoming races most of the time. I can almost always predict what is going to happen in the race but I don't always get it right (anything can happen on the day). I know what the expecations are so I put myself in a zone and always try to be prepared for any situation that may approach itself.

The L.A Dosage: Now we know this is not an easy question to answer but is really possible for athletes such as yourselves to avoid injuries, and if so, how do you do it? 

Nicholas Dlamini: You can't really avoid injuries, they are always going to be there. If you are lucky enough, you can almost complete the season injury-free. A crash is a crash, if it happens there is nothing much you can do about it. You just have to make sure your bike is in good condition and everything intact and know where to be at the right time in order to avoid trouble, but we have guys that read these things pretty well to make it easier for us riders.

The L.A Dosage: What has been the biggest highlight of your career this far? (We know you might mention the Tour Down Under stage jersey)

Nicholas Dlamini: (laughs) I think winning the King of the Mountain Jersey in the U-23 Giro Ciclistico d’Italia (known as the Baby Giro d’Italia). I think that was my biggest highlight. This is where I got to test myself against the best in the world and since then I have learned to believe in myself from the time I got the jersey. I still had to keep the jersey for a couple days, and I woke up that morning with the mindset of whether I win it or lose it, it will still be my biggest highlight. You are still racing against the best in the world. Winning the jersey was phenomenal because you know you are competing against a guy who has possibly won the Tour de France before. Making podium is great and just winning the jersey on the first day made me think to myself that this is more than enough. I suppose support really plays a big role. The support I received when I got the jersey was overwhelming and that's what motivated me to keep going.

Ryan Sandes, Vanessa Sandes, Nicholas Dlamini

The L.A Dosage: Which race as a cyclist would you wish to compete in and have the chance to win?

Nicholas Dlamini: The Tour de France is one race I'd like to compete in one day and possibly win it which is great but the one competition I'd really like to partake in is the Olympics. Its really a huge deal because you are there to represent your country, the Tour de France, you are just there to ride for your team and represent them so its very different for me. Winning the Olympics in South African colours would be a huge deal for me.

The L.A Dosage: Which cyclist do you look up to, whose career you'd like to emulate?

Nicholas Dlamini: None! (laughs). I guess for me its a bit different. I know these guys pretty well (fellow cyclists) and obviously having a background in running, my biggest mentor has always been Ryan Sandes. He is one of the best trailrunners in the world and he has always looked after me, growing up and helping me with certains things and so forth. So for me, he is still one of my biggest role models and someone really look up to. That's why I have to shift it a bit away from cycling although that is expected in the way I see my role models. I don't believe that it always has to be someone who does the same sport as you.

The L.A Dosage: In closing, what advice  would you give to the younger kids out there who look up to you and want to try their luck in cycling? 

Nicholas Dlamini: I believe kids nowadays have almost stopped dreaming you know. They are scared to dream and I believe that you should always go out there and do your best; because you can only really do your best. Dreams do sound crazy sometimes but they are achievable. I remember the times when I used to share my dreams and goals with my friends and they thought I was crazy at the time. Looking back, I can see that all those dreams are starting to come true and they are all coming so fast. So they should just go out there and do what they have to do and keep dreaming.

What a pleasure and honour it was getting to know the young man who made South Africa proud on the world stage. Nicholas, we wish you great success in your future cycling endevours. The world is your oyster.

From The L.A Dosage team, till next time. . .