Out of Africa: Daryl Impey rides from purgatory to history in Tour de France
South African's career had nosedived, but now he is the first African to wear yellow jersey
Fifteen months ago South African Daryl Impey was racing in what competitors on the elite World Tour would consider cycling purgatory.
"Sometimes all the stars line up for you and this is definitely one of those moments," said Impey. "To wear the yellow jersey at the 100th edition of the Tour de France is just a dream come true."
In second position overall behind Australian teammate Simon Gerrans since Orica-GreenEdge's victory in the team time trial on stage four, expectations were high that Impey would be propelled into the race lead. It later emerged that Gerrans offered to "give" Impey the jersey.
"It was actually Simon's idea," said Orica sporting director Matt White, admitting that while it would change little for Gerrans, "for Daryl Impey, it's going to change his life".
But White was quick to dispel any ideas that Impey had not earned it. "People who would say that have probably never done a bunch sprint at the Tour de France before," added White. "If you look at the positions Daryl's been in at the Tour, it's not easy to hold your position in the top 10 in those hectic sprints.
"He certainly wasn't gifted the yellow jersey. He had to earn it. And to earn it, you've got to have the balls to stay up there in very, very hectic finals."
The story of Impey's career is one that should inspire any athlete. He left South Africa eight years ago for top French amateur club VC La Pomme in Marseille, but was soon on a flight home.
"It was my first time overseas, so it was quite tough. In the year at La Pomme I learnt: from eating badly, trying to get too skinny to trying everything basically to become a professional bike rider.
"The season didn't turn out as planned. I felt treated as just another foreigner, so I decided to come back to South Africa."
A call from South African Robert Hunter, which offered a place at Barloworld, was his ticket back to Europe. Impey called Hunter "one of the most influential people" in his career.
But despite embarking on what appeared to be promising spells with the South African outfit, with whom he won the Tour of Turkey, and then Team RadioShack, Impey's career nosedived after an aborted move to Pegasus.
He signed for the South African Pro Continental team MTN Qhubeka in 2011, but despite becoming national time trial champion, Impey hankered after a return to the big leagues.
Despite moving to German team NetApp, his fairy Godmother came knocking in the shape of brand new Australian team Orica-GreenEdge.
Team manager Shayne Bannan said Impey's "great physiology" was a factor. Since joining, Impey's confidence in his own abilities has soared. "I came to the team as a domestique, but quickly showed that I could do more than they expected."
