The South African U23 men’s national road cycling team members who will participate in the 2016 Tour de l’Avenir in France from August 20 to 27 have been announced.
The eight-day race will cover a total distance of 898.9km with an individual time-trial on one day.
Selection was based on the riders’ performances at the SA National Road Championships, as well as the European experience of the riders.
The Tour de l’Avenir is a UCI U23 Nations’ Cup event and is the U23 equivalent of the Tour de France.
Former South African professional cyclist Robbie Hunter and Cycling SA Road Commission Director Bosseau Boshoff have been working hard to make the participation of a South African team in the prestigious tour come to fruition. After two years they have achieved their objective.
“The Tour de l’Avenir invites the top cycling nations and four wild card teams to compete each year.
“This is a very big race on the global cycling calendar and it is the first time that we have been invited to attend. After two years of working towards this, we are thrilled to be entering a national team,” said Boshoff.
National Team 2016 Tour de l’Avenir:
U23 Men
Nicholas Dlamini
Stefan de Bod
Ryan Gibbons
Morne van Niekerk
Gustav Basson
Shameeg Salie
Management
Kevin Campbell
