The South African ProTouch team are gearing up for the inaugural four-stage Tour de Limpopo, which kicks off in Polokwane on April 22.
They will be among 20 local and international teams participating in the new addition to the UCI Africa Tour calendar.
ProTouch will be competing against some new teams and unfamiliar riders in a race that carries a UCI 2.2 rating.
South Africa’s ProTouch team will compete in the inaugural Tour de Limpopo from April 23. The team is, from left: Mitchell Eliot, James Fourie, Myles van Musschenbroek, Jayde Julius, Reynard Butler and Gustav Basson. Photo: Supplied
“Having a UCI event in South Africa is a great opportunity, not only for domestic teams to test themselves against international competition, but also to gain some important UCI points which helps towards qualifying riders for UCI World Championships,” said team manager Tony Harding.
“The more points our riders can garner, the more marketable they make themselves in Europe.”
Included in the team are Reynard Butler, Jayde Julius, Gustav Basson, Myles van Musschenbroek, James Fourie and Mitchell Eliot.
Butler scooped wins in this year’s Emperors Palace Classic, Ride for Sight and Berge en Dale, where Basson was runner up.
Van Musschenbroek placed fourth overall in last year’s Tour de Maurice.
After starting in the Limpopo capital city of Polokwane the tour will head east to Tzaneen, where riders will sleep for three nights, then head back to Polokwane to finish at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
