It is around six-thirty in the morning at Le Tour 2015. The riders are still asleep optimising every minute of recovery for the day's stage starting later that day. As these super-human athletes enter their final REM cycle, several of "Africa's Team" support personnel are already wide awake as they head off on a group run.
"It is important to set aside a little time for oneself," explains Dr. Jarrad Van Zuydam. "Working on a Grand Tour is all consuming and requires total dedication. That is why we have a staff running group that heads out in the mornings while we are away on tour; a little exercise helps to deal with any stress or anxiety and gives me the energy required for the day."
Jarrad Van Zuydam is a busy man.
As Head Physician for Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, his role within the organisation might seem fairly straightforward: a team doctor responsible for the health and well-being of the riders, keeping them on their bikes in order to attain the desired results. But just as assuming that a general practitioner in private practice sole function is that of patient consultations and solutions thereof, a job title is merely the tip of the iceberg; there so much more that goes into fulfilling such a function than one might suspect.
"Things are hectic at the moment and we are already planning for the Tour de France," says Van Zuydam on a weekday afternoon in mid-January. "I've got a lot of administration to get through before my first trip away with the team next month. Email correspondence, Skype calls and medical reports predominate but that is fine; it is all part of the challenge of working in a high performance environment."
High performance is a term that is often misunderstood. Professional sport has high demands on both body and mind and with results being the sole focus of the athletes, having world-class backup is essential in the quest for peak performance.
"We strive to achieve optimal balance between health and performance," says Van Zuydam. "While these two modalities are separate entities within our team, there is an element of overlap between the two. If a rider's health is compromised then performance suffers, so there is a lot of consultation between the medical and high performance directors. The riders are under super-human physiological loads so it is important for the medical staff to have an insight into their training."
While the massive training and racing loads are part and parcel of the pro cycling environment, Van Zuydam is quick to point out various public misconceptions of rider health, often a result of confusing layman terms with true medical terms.
"There is understandably a lot of media hype surrounding professional cycling," he explains. "For instance, a rider with real influenza is highly unlikely to be able to race. There are no miracle cures although it may seem that way when a rider recovers from “flu” in a day. In reality, these upper respiratory symptoms are more often allergy related. The key for us is to catch the warning signs early and inform the sporting directors in good time."
Prevention makes up the bulk of Van Zuydam's function when on tour, where factors such as hygiene and nutrition complement the daily monitoring of weight, urine, body composition and even sleep quality. And while these daily biofeedback markers are all quantitative in nature, an element of instinct and intuition does enter the fray in making the best possible assessment of each rider’s health.
"There is definitely a degree of personal perception that comes with getting to know the riders on tour," confirms Van Zuydam. "Body language, how each rider reacts in conversation and how they talk all are taken into consideration. These cues might prompt us to examine a particular rider more carefully or be on the lookout for any deviation in their vital signs.
There is little doubt that Van Zuydam's function is demanding. Long hours together with constant attention to detail require a special person with a specific temperament., a calling of sorts. So how did Van Zuydam come to find himself working with the athletes of the World Tour's newest addition?
"I guess I was just in the right place at the right time," he admits. "Having always been a sportsman, I discovered cycling during my year of Community Service on the outskirts of Rustenburg. Riding my mountain-bike kept me sane during this time and after further training in anaesthesia, I branched out into sports medicine under the guidance of Dr. Jon Patricios. The then-Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung had approached Jon to put together a medical team and the opportunity presented itself for me to get involved."
The term "gradual" is perhaps prophetic given his growing into his current role. With two Grand Tours under his belt, Van Zuydam is not shy to recount instances of feeling out of his depth during his formative years with the team.
"The Tour of Gabon was my first stage race away with the guys and was quite a baptism of fire to say the least. It was difficult; we stayed in crummy hotels and our transport was in beat up taxis and military aircraft. Some hairy experiences there but it was a great time of discovery where I grew essentially with the team."
From there Van Zuydam progressed to the Tour de Langkawi and then to Tirreno Adriatico, the cobbled classics and the Tour de Suisse and is under no illusions of how critical this progression has shaped his current approach and general demeanour.
"I'm a lot calmer now," he says going on to add that the more challenging times have made him more professional. "One time in Portugal there was a major crash where one of our riders ended up in hospital with broken vertebrae. Nobody spoke English and I certainly spoke no Portuguese but we eventually got things sorted out. Those sort of moments put things into perspective and teach you how to cope in challenging circumstances.
So with all of this water under the bridge and 2016 meaning a step up into the premiere league of cycling, how does Van Zuydam see his year panning out?
"My first trip is to the Tour of Qatar next month," he says adding that he is also involved in a private practice in Johannesburg. "I've got around seventy days this year where I'll be away with the team and will balance this with consulting at a new sports medicine and orthopaedic practice called Waterfall SOS at the Netcare Waterfall City Hospital. Managing the various UCI medical mandates and getting ready for Le Tour is certainly challenging but that is the way I like it."
And will he find some quiet moments to invest in his own health and fitness?
"For sure! I still go and ride my own bike at 5am whenever the opportunity arises."
*Note: Header Image courtesy of Andrew King and Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka.
