Modern Cyclist Magazine Issue 1, September 2014 | Page 9
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In total, the team has 24
professional cyclists. Of this,
nine are South African, eight
are from the rest of Africa and
seven are Europeans;
MTN Qhubeka powered by
Samsung is the seventh most
popular professional cycling
team on social media;
During 2013, the team rode
196 race days in races all over
the world. This competitive
intensity is higher than any other
professional sport world-wide;
MTN Qhubeka has a strict “no
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drug history” recruitment policy
which states that no rider nor
support staff may join the team
if there is evidence that they
were linked to drugs;
Everyone involved with MTN
Qhubeka, from the riders to
the sponsors, have to donate
something to Qhubeka’s Bikes
for Kids charity;
Star MTN Qhubeka rider Gerald
Ciolek has won more cycling
events per year since he joined
the team than when he rode
for his previous team, Omega
Pharma Quickstep;
Cyclists who ride for
MTN Qhubeka are not
only evaluated on race
performance but also on what
they do for the team’s charity.
This is also the only team in the
world of cycling that has given
For the rural
communities,
MTN Qhubeka
bike handover
ceremonies
become full scale
events, with street
races and other
cycling-related
activities to keep
the new bike
owners’ occupied.
Photograph from
MTN Qhubeka.
Cycling South Africa’s Road Cycling Commission is proud to
announce that the following riders have been selected to represent
South Africa at the 2014 UCI Road World Championships taking
place in Ponferrada, Spain, from 21-28 September.
Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg
Jacques Janse van Rensburg
Jay Thomson
UNDER 23
Louis Meintjes
Jayde Julius
Kevin Patten
Willie Smit
ELITE WOMEN
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio
An-Li Kachelhoffer
Heidi Dalton
naming rights to a charity.
Since MTN Qhubeka arrived in
Europe, many teams like Trek
Factory Racing and Garmin
Sharp have partnered with
charities. Up until now, very few
charities have benefited from
pro continental teams.
stop press MC
MTN Qhubeka RIDERS taking part in
the 2014 la Vuelta a España are:
Sergio Pardilla (Spain)
Gerald Ciolek (Germany)
Louis Meintjes (South Africa)
Jay Thomson (South Africa)
Jaco Venter (South Africa)
Jacques Janse van Rensburg (South Africa)
Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eritrea)
Merhawi Kudus (Eritrea)
Kristian Sbaragli (Italy)
Reserve: Ignatas Konovalovas (Lithuania)
Criterium races
ROCK West Rand
Road world champs
team ANNOUNCED
ELITE MEN
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España
Eight things you
DON’T KNOW
about MTN
Qhubeka:
JUNIOR MEN
Gustav Basson
Ivan Venter
Graeme Ockhuis
Stefan de Bod (Non Traveling
Reserve)
JUNIOR WOMEN
Monique Gerber
Michelle Benson
Catherine Colyn
MANAGEMENT
Bosseau Boshoff
Kandice Buys
Spain will host the World Championships for the seventh time this year since they
were first held in Lasarte (1965), and subsequently in Montjuïc (1973), Barcelona
(1984), Benidorm (1992), San Sebastian (1997) and Madrid (2005). Ponferrada, the
capital of the region of Bierzo in the North East of the province of Leon, will host
the 2014 UCI Road World Championships.
Ponferrada is nestled in the heart of a natural valley with a unique microclimate
and surrounded by rocky massifs at the four cardinal points.
The GO WEST! Cycling Festival is back and the 2014
invitational event is set to attract South Africa’s top
cycling talent for a series of four road racing criterium
events through the beautiful streets of the West Rand
District Municipality from 17-20 M