A LIFE IN CYCLING

JOHNNY KOEN BREATHES BICYCLES, AND HAS DONE FOR FIVE DECADES.

JOHNNY KOEN’S VOICE IS A FAMILIAR ONE at many cycling events across South Africa. He commentates, and he brings in the riders, with a passion and a knowledge of the sport, its obstacles and its triumphs that only a former racer could impart.

And what a pro he was: eight years as a full-time racer (well, as full-time as

Jyou could be, in the 80s) on the biggest teams of the time. Then he hit the cycling kit industry with the same gusto, in the early 90s; first with a brand called Anatomic, and then, in 2000 – after selling Anatomic – with the Velotex brand he still runs today.

All this alongside his commentary stints, and being the SABC’s go-to cycling man for over 30 years.

Being a pro in the 80s They were the glory years. TV was involved, in a big way, and sport was huge in South Africa.

But we all had to have jobs, too. Even Alan van Heerden had to run his bike shop to make any money – there wasn’t money like today. My first contract, in ’82, was R200 a month! You had to hustle, and plan for the next year when there might be no contract.

My best year as a pro In 1983 I took home R80k from my cycling, in salary and winnings. For perspective, a Porsche Carrera would have cost you R60k at the time. I don’t think a lot of guys today are earning Carrera money in a year!

My earliest cycling memory Chrome track bikes hanging on the fence at the Westbourne Oval. In PE, you either went to the wrestling or the football to spectate, or to the cycling.

I can still hear the bunch coming past, seeing Willie Marx at top speed. I was about 11, in 1968… it’s still with me, that excitement.