Daryl Impey

Izimvo is honoured to introduce professional cyclist Daryl Impey.

Daryl, at the age of 24, has recently signed with Lance Armstrong’s new team, Team RadioShack. Not only will Daryl be riding alongside the seven-time Tour de France winner but he will also be managed by Armstrong’s long-time team manager, Johan Bruyneel.

Back in April, Daryl suffered two broken vertebrae and a fractured jaw as a result a horrific crash at the Tour of Turkey. The manner in which Daryl always remained positive during his incredible recovery has been a true inspiration. After two months back on the bike, Daryl has made a full recovery and is looking stronger than ever.

Website: http://www.darylimpey.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/darylimpey
Location: Johanessburg

Daryl was kind enough to answer the following questions for us:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Easy, this is my friend. Daryl Impey (most say he is a cyclist)

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I take a box of Ouma rusks overseas each time I leave SA.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Coming back to SA is the best place for me to relax with my girlfriend, family and friends. Most of the time a braai at home does the trick.

Professional Cycling

Q: To what do you attribute the popularity of South African cycling over recent years?

A: I think when Rob won a stage at the tour, many riders (including myself) saw it was possible. Also MTB is growing more than Road due to the fact that our roads ae too dangerous to ride on.

Q: You recently suffered a very bad fall during a final sprint at the Presidential Cycling Tour in Turkey. Do you feel that the matter, in which it seemed that you were pushed by a fellow rider, was handled correctly?

A: The matter was dealt in the best way it could, it was handled according to the rules.

Q: Congratulations on your recent signing with Radioshack. What about living in Spain are you most looking forward to?

A: Thanks! Riding for Radioshack is going to be great for me and my career. The move to Spain wasn’t easy from Como, I need to learn a new language and make new friends, that being said I’ve weighed up the “pro’s” and “con’s” and Spain has so much more to offer. It has great weather for starters and most of my english riding friends stay in Girona. I’m looking forward to adding Spanish to my vocabulary.

Q: Which young local rider impresses you the most and do you think that a South African riding for a South African team could ever win the Tour de France?

A: I had a camp earlier this year called “Base Camp” and I had some juniors with me. It was aimed at young riders only and I was impressed with JC Nel who is still young but so eager to race. He has already won a race overseas this year. Winning the Tour de France is possible for any nation, it just depends on budget, management and most importantly the riders.

We have talent here in SA, it’s just sad we have no system in place yet for youngsters trying to make it overseas.It is not so easy to convince SA sponsors to have a team racing in Europe.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Yes my brother has been hi-jacked while riding and in his car. It makes you more alert, thats for sure. We know in the back of our minds we could be a statistic but we also have got used to it.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: Well for me it would be yes. I would purely emigrate because of my passport issues. Visa’s are the worst. I would probably end up living in Italy or Spain.

Q: If you were South African president for just one day, what would you change?

A: I would take Taxi’s off the road.

Q: To which three attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Sun city, Sabie and Cape Town.

Living on the Road

Q: Which is your favorite of the many cities that you get to race in?

A: I still think the Amashova has the best scenery for a race, although I never get a chance to do it now that I’m racing overseas.

Q: What do you find yourself doing on the days off during a long stage race?

A: Relaxing by the pool or watching some DVD’s. Most of the time I’ve got chores in the house as well.

Q: How do you find traveling on a South African passport?

A: An absolute nightmare,every Embassy I go to I am first treated as a criminal until proven innocent. I have to give so much personal info in order to get one. Europeans just jump on a plane. We give the access in SA without visa’s, but it’s not returned, explain that?!

General

Q: Do you have any routines that you like to follow before a big race?

A: Most of the time, 20 min before leaving the hotel, I have my bags packed and I just chill on the bed in my cycling kit listening to my music. I dont like to rush and go, I need to chill before heading to the bus. 20 min before the start, I knock an Espresso back and sign on.

Q: Favorite South African sporting moment of the last 10 years?

A: When Bafana scored a goal earlier this year vs Brazil from the penalty to make it go to extra time.

Q: Which cycling personality have you most enjoyed meeting?

A: Ah thats a difficult one. There loads like Rob Hunter, Malcolm Lange, Doug Ryder and Nic White. They’ve steered me in the right direction and they all have totally different personalities.

Q: Which South African bands are in the music collection that you travel with?

Q: They not a band but a group called Household Funk. They make their own music, parties and put it together brilliantly. Check them out at www.householdfunk.co.za

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo?

A: Anyone who can teach me why my ball fades to the right each time I play golf. Seriously!

We would like to thank Daryl for taking the time to answer our questions and we look forward to a long and very successful career from this Jeppe Old Boy.