The strong elite field expected for the 105km aQuellé Tour Durban classic on Sunday 26 April has been bolstered by the inclusion of an MTN Qhubeka feeder team of three emerging local racers and three top Eritrean riders.
Masterminded by road cycling stalwart JP van Zyl, the team of Under 23 athletes comes into the race on Sunday morning posing a serious threat to the stranglehold that Team Abantu has enjoyed on the Durban classic, and the threats from the other juggernauts like Westvaal and Bonitas.
“Yes, we come into the race as underdogs but we are there to upset the apple cart!” says van Zyl, who is the director of the World Cycling Centre Satellite Africa in Potchefstroom.
“The aQuellé Tour Durban is a major priority for us and we would really like to add that title to the 94.7 that we won,” said van Zyl. “It is a key race of our season and one of the main ones on the calendar.”
Van Zyl’s team will also race the UCI races that form the Cycling South Africa Autumn Series the week after the aQuellé Tour Durban, but says the Tour Durban title is their biggest priority.
“The vibe in the team is exceptional,” said van Zyl. “This is basically a school where we train the guys about being a pro riding in the World Tour. They live together and train together, with a nutritionist, and as a result they are really tight.”
Van Zyl said the talent in the team allowed for any one of the six to contest overall line honours, but said that Meron Teshome Hagos was the team’s best sprinter and the man they might try to take to the line.
“He is a class act. He made a big impression on the recent Tour of Morocco where he was in the top five every day,” said van Zyl.
“Oliver Stapleton-Cotton is a great all-rounder and Gustav Basson is the new kid on the block who can sprint and climb.”
“Nicholas Dlamini is in exceptional condition at the moment and will be one to watch,” added Van Zyl.
“Metkel Eyob Teweldeberhan was the best Under 23 on the Tour de Rio and is probably the best prospect to emerge from Eritrea for the last two years.
“Then Tesfom Issak Okubamariam is a real talent. He was the African champion last year and will probably be heading for the pro team later this year,” said van Zyl.
“It is such a well balanced team that can handle just about anything. I think it is going to be a very quick 100km with some strong teams in the mix.”
Van Zyl said that he was looking forward to the tactical duel with the other team managers, and in particular an adversary from his racing days Dean Edwards who calls the shots for the defending champion Team Abantu.
“I have to outwit Dean (Edwards) this weekend!” said van Zyl. “It’s sad that no one gets to follow the action with the managers in the cars because that can be even more entertaining than the actual racing!”
While most of his team are novices on the route, they had studied the route profile and planned thoroughly for the race, with van Zyl able to add his experience from contesting the race.
“I never got to win it so I have another chance with the team on Sunday.”
“Never discount the underdog!” warned van Zyl.
The MTN Qhubeka feeder team entered for the aQuellé is Eritrean riders Metkel Eyob Teweldeberhan, Meron Teshome Hagos and Tesfom Issak Okubamariam and South African riders Oliver Stapleton-Cotton, Gustav Basson and Nicholas Dlamini.
More information can be found at www.tourdurban.co.za.
Finally! Was wondering when we were going to see these boys grace us with their presence.