Team director says same athleticism behind Africa’s runners will lead to great cyclists

South African cyclist Jim Songezo, centre, celebrates on the podium after he was elected best combative rider of the Ninth Tropicale Amissa Bongo 2014 (Tour du Gabon) cycling race on January 19, 2014 Show more

Africa’s cyclists can have the same impact on the grand tours as its runners have had on Olympic tracks, the man behind the continent’s first Tour de France team said.

South African Douglas Ryder formed the MTN-Qhubeka professional team in 2007 and has made it his mission to build a roster made up predominantly of African riders.

The team received a wild card for this year’s Tour de France, and while it would be fanciful to suggest all those wearing the distinctive black-and-white stripes at the start in Utrecht this June will be Africans, it is still a breakthrough moment.

“I believe in the potential of the endurance gene that is very prominent across this continent, and we wanted to get more Africans and South Africans on to bicycles and see how far they can go,” he said. “Can they become the best in the world?

“I wouldn’t be surprised in the next three years that a black African rider will be on the podium in a grand tour.”

Ryder said he believes in the talents of Eritreans such as Natnael Berhane, Daniel Teklehaimanot and Merhawi Kudus, as well as South African Songezo Jim and Rwanda’s Adrien ­Niyonshuti.

Jim was the first black South African to compete at a UCI World Tour event in 2013, grimacing through the snow on the Milan San Remo while Kudus completed last year’s Vuelta despite a horrible first week crash.

“We are super scientific as a team, and we understand the power and data that comes out of these guys,” said Ryder, who augments his African contingent with seasoned pros such as American Tyler Farrar and Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen. “That’s why we believe this is possible.

“The only thing we can’t simulate is the skills in the bunch.

“When you are riding in Africa the road goes in one direction for 50 miles, and you might see an ostrich or a buffalo.

“In Europe you have three-metre wide roads, hundreds of riders, towns every 20 kilometres with traffic furniture and roundabouts.

“In our first year, five riders broke their collar bones.

“You need time in the peloton to get that rhythm.”

Team sports director Jens Zemke agreed: “We have some huge talent in our team.

“The body structure – they look like long distance runners, but it’s also about discipline, experience, technical understanding and the ­lifestyle.”

Fast or slow, Ryder said his team, that partly exists to promote the Qhubeka Foundation’s work in giving bikes to rural villages, will not be stained by cycling’s curse, doping.

“There is no history in Africa of doping in cycling,” he said.

“In a way I’m happy we are in cycling today and not seven or eight years ago because at that time it was like racing motorbikes and African riders would have looked and thought the door is not going to open, that they can’t compete.

“That era turned whole countries away from cycling.”

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