Jacques Janse Van Rensburg got his first chance to ride at the professional level when his MTN-Qhubeka was awarded pro continental status prior to the 2013 season. With one year of high-level racing in his legs, the talented South African is now chasing better personal results in 2014.

26-year-old Jacques Janse Van Rensburg had long been regarded as a talented climber who had his first taste of high-level European racing in 2012 when he rode for the Burgos 2016 - Castilla y Leon continental team in Spain in 2011. He returned home to the South African MTN-Qhubeka team in 2012 when he showed his talents by winning the Tour of Eritrea.

With such results already on his palmares, it was only natural for the team to include their South African climber on the roster when they stepped up to pro continental level for the 2013 season. And Van Rensburg lived up to the promises right from the beginning when he finished in the top 10 on a stage of the Tropical Amissa Bongo before assisting Sergio Pardilla in the Tour de Langkawi while finishing 14th overall himself.

However, his best day on the bike probably came on the first stage of the Giro del Trentino when he made it into the decisive breakaway. He was unable to keep up with the best on the final climb but took a fine 7th. In the rest of the season, he has mostly taken on a domestique role while also gaining experience.

Van Rensburg is very happy with the outcome of his season.

“There was no low point for me this year," he said. "It’s just been normal days then good days and great days and it’s good to look back and think about it.

“I have definitely improved a lot in my riding this year. The main problem for me has always been positioning before a climb starts. I have always had to waste so much energy just to get to the front and I have definitely improved this year and I am quite happy. I am looking forward to next year. I’m working hard in the off season.”

For four years, Van Rensburg has been suffering from a condition that has made it difficult for him to eat and rest properly. He has used the off-season to get it sorted out in a hernia repair operation.

“I’ve been struggling with it for around four years," he said. Whenever I wake up in the mornings I struggle to eat breakfast before races. I am usually nauseous so struggle to eat enough. At night I would get really bad pain below my rib cage. I’ve lived with the pain for a few years and it’s affected my riding, not being able to eat properly before races and recover well when I have pain at night. The last 18 months it’s got worse so I decided I would get the surgery done during this off-season.”

Van Rensburg is now back in training and has started with some light gym work on his legs and core. The team will have its first training camp in December.

Van Rensburg has clear ideas of what he wants to achieve in 2014, with his eyes being firmly directed on a possible grand tour debut and better personal results.

“I’d want to be in the team offering support if we get into a Grand Tour," he said. "That’s definitely a goal of mine. I would like to support the experienced riders there. I will also be chasing better results personally. I think I am going to step up next year and with the work I am putting in in the off season, I would love a podium or two in one of the races I will be doing. I can see myself getting a podium in one of the one day races so that’s definitely a goal for me."

MTN-Qhubeka is hoping to receive a wild card invitation for their first grand tour in 2013, with the Giro d'Italia generally being seen as the most likely scene for its maiden three-week race.