Ciolek’s third stage triumph in Germany was the first yellow
leader’s jersey for an African team in Europe.
Overall, the team achieved a Top10 ranking at the end of the
Bayern Rundhart, which ensured they achieved their goals going into the tough
German stage race for professionals. Such results bode well for MTN and Team
MTN Qhubeka’s objective to have the first
African-registered professional continental team competing in the Tour De
France one day.
The past couple of months has seen some magnificent
performances on the bike by the only African cycling team participating in
Europe and has given a rise to South African cycling. Just over two months ago,
the team started tasting success, as Ciolek was victorious for Team MTN Qhubeka
in the Milan-SanRemo race in Italy.
Since the start of
2013, the team has consistently performed admirably in the Presidential Tour of
Turkey, Tour of Norway and Tour of Taiwan, which has also seen the rise to
cycling stardom of Songezo Jim from the Eastern Cape, who became the first
black African to take part in a World Cycling Tour event. The team also
comprises of riders from Ethiopia and Eretria.
MTN is a proud sponsor of Team MTN Qhubeka
cycling team, which is the largest multi-discipline African continental race
team. As one of the most successful race teams on the continent, the team has
garnered over 390 race victories since 2008, including a myriad of national and
continental championships. This year the Team MTN Qhubeka continues to shine
going from one premiere international cycling race to the next. Team MTN Qhubeka riders promote the Qhubeka charity
initiative which distributes bikes to needy children to take them to school and
empower them. Kids through the planting of trees in their communities earn the
bikes.
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