Out of Africa: Daryl Impey rides from purgatory to history in Tour de France

Fifteen months ago South African Daryl Impey was racing in what competitors on the elite World Tour would consider cycling purgatory.

On Thursday, the 28-year-old from Johannesburg stole the show at the Tour de France when he became the first African and the first South African to pull on the fabled yellow jersey. He will keep it for at least one more stage after defending it yesterday.

"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."