Potchefstroom’s UCI World Cycling Centre Africa’s cycling team has already begun to reap early rewards in the 2015 season.
Nicholas Dlamini (RSA), part of the 2015 MTN-Qhubeka WCCA Feeder Team, has achieved a string of successes in the early part of the season. Photo: craigdutton.com
The WCC Africa has been successfully identifying and developing African cycling talent since 2005.
Such talent includes the MTN-Qhubeka WCCA Feeder Team, the high performance team of 10 cyclists comprising seven South Africans and three Eritreans.
A string of high-calibre UCI rated road cycling events has given the team sufficient time to test their strengths against other international-level riders.
The SA Road Cycling Championships followed by the African Road Cycling Championships in early February tested the team’s output against some of Africa’s best competitors.
The recent Tour de Boland saw Eritrean Tesfom Okubamariam in with a chance, but unfortunately he dropped his chain on the final day in an attack against Dylan Girdlestone.
MTN-Qhubeka WCCA Feeder Team claimed the Team competition and finished the tour with u23 riders, Gustav Basson 6th overall and Stefan de Bod 8th overall, in the top eight.
During the Cape Rouleur Nicholas Dlamini won the overall GC with over four minutes margin on his closest rival, with teammate Graeme Ockhuis finishing third.
Dlamini walked away with the yellow leader jersey and the red climbers jersey, while Ockhuis claimed the green sprinters jersey in the pro category.
The team is set to compete in the upcoming KZN Autumn Series road races at the end of April, comprising three races each with a UCI Cat 1.2 rating.
The under-23 boys will also head to Switzerland for the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle.
