Team Dimension Data has been granted a World Tour licence for the 2016 season by the International Cycling Union.
Today’s historic UCI announcement means that this is the first time that an African team is represented at the highest level in world cycling.
The formerly ProContinental team, which rode as MTN-Qhubeka in 2015, was one of five teams to be granted a wild card for this year’s Tour de France, in which they impressed with a stage win on Nelson Mandela Day.
The team will also be registering a UCI Continental outfit for the new season. Young up-and-coming African talent will be based at the team’s training centre in Lucca, Italy, and groomed for the European racing circuit.
Douglas Ryder said the WorldTour card was incredible news and that it was fitting that they got the message while on their training camp in Cape Town.
“I am so happy for this team, our partners and all the staff and riders that have worked so hard over the years to keep building this team to push beyond the boundaries and believe that anything is possible.”
