Cycling is an afterthought for Nic Dlamini as he changes lanes

After 10 years in cycling, he now wants to give back and build his own businesses. By Keanan Hemmonsbey

- Keanan Hemmonsbey

Nicholas Dlamini hasn't quite hung up his cycling shoes yet. Despite admitting that he'll never reach the heights of 2021, when he became the first black cyclist from South Africa to ride the Tour de France, the 30-year-old will be competing sporadically again next year.

There have been a few life-altering events across the latter parts of Dlamini's journey at the pinnacle of cycling. Towards the end of 2019, the then 24-year-old suffered a broken arm after an altercation with rangers on Table Mountain.

Six years later, the matter is still playing out in court, with trial dates pending.

"It's crazy to think about. It's actually almost six years or something. It is South Africa; everything takes quite a bit of time."

He battled through that setback, and now that he has started his own family, he is reassessing his priorities in life.

"The older you get, and obviously once you start having a family, kids, you tend to be a lot more cautious," he explained. "You don't take the risks that you once took when you were a lot younger, taking corners that are very high speed.

"That braveness basically leaves you. In situations like that, you're just happy to sort of hold back because you don't want to break your collarbone and now you're not able to do much at home with your kids."

So although he still rides regularly, it's recreational for now, with his twoand four-year-old sons at home taking priority.

Although a comeback isn't totally out of the question, fans of his shouldn't expect first-place finishes.

"I haven't really retired... I don't know, I could come back to racing next year," he said.

Giving back