2022 preparations underway for ProTouch in Mpumalanga

ProTouch Continental Cycling has put in the hard work during their 2022 Training Camp in Mpumalanga that saw riders being pushed to their best ahead of their first tour of the year.

According to the organisers the purpose of the camp is to on-board their new riders from Africa as well as prepare for the upcoming races.

ProTouch’s first race is the Gauteng Championships that will be held on the weekend of Friday, January 14 followed by the SA Nationals before the highly anticipated Tour du Rwanda in February.

In November, Africa’s number-one UCI-registered Continental Team announced its roster for the 2022 season, including 12 riders from four African cycling nations.

The South African-registered team that was formed in 2019 has maintained its top ranking since inception and is now broadening this platform to include four Rwandan riders, an Eritrean and Ugandan rider, alongside six SA riders who were all part of the 2021 squad.

“This exciting move aims to boost diversity in the cycling world and enable more African riders, in the lead-up to Paris 2024 and Kigali 2025,” said Sports Director Tony Harding.

ProTouch is the only UCI-registered all-African team, with riders from more than one African country.

The 2022 squad includes South Africans Kent Main (ranked 3rd in Africa), Gustav Basson (ranked 22nd in Africa), Rohan du Plooy, Callum Ormiston (U/23), Mitchell Eliot, andTiano da Silva (U/23); Rwandan riders Jean Eric Habimana (U/23 ranked 24th in Africa), Moise Mugisha (ranked 26th in Africa), Samuel Mugisha and Jean Claude Nzafashwanayo (U/23); as well as Eritrean Mehari Tewelde (U/23); and Ugandan Charles Kagimu (ranked 33rd in Africa).

The strong squad provides a combination of young, promising talent and more experienced continental riders from Africa.