With a fistful of medals under her belt in various cycling events, St Dominic’s Priory pupil Kelsey van Schoor is swiftly making a name for herself as a rider of the future.
The 14-year-old Port Elizabethan was drawn to cycling when she competed in the Spur Schools MTB League in 2013 and has not looked back.
Two years later she moved to competitive racing and joined the Lorraine Bestmed development team, soon discovering that she could alternate comfortably between the track, road and mountain bike disciplines.
She rides for Team Bestmed-ASG in road races and Team Bestmed Lappierre in mountain biking.
Van Schoor underlined her credentials by picking up four gold medals at the national track championships in PE in March, including setting a record in the team pursuit.
“I started off mountain biking with my dad in the Baakens Valley and then the Spur series provided a stepping stone.
“My journey onto skinny wheels started when I joined the development team at the end of 2014,” she said.
“Track cycling was the next logical step and I found myself easily being able to switch between the three disciplines.”
Van Schoor, who is now fully focused on cycling, ensures her school work is never neglected.
“That always comes first. Time management is very important and I manage to make it work.”
She does, however, find time to relax by going to the beach as well as spending time with family and friends.
With her father Anton, and coach Frans Gerber, doing much to guide her career, Van Schoor has already plotted her way forward.
“My short term goals are to win the national youth festivals in Oudtshoorn and Bloemfontein this year.
“And then later in the season I want to represent my province at the Spur league’s national finals.”
She said she would love to represent South Africa at the African continental champs as a junior and at the junior road worlds in Austria in 2018.
