Africa’s premier cycling team, Dimension Data, formerly known as MTN-Qhubeka, are in the city for their first training camp of the new season.
The 22-rider Dimension Data team was recently granted a World Tour licence, which gains it entry to international cycling’s top flight.
Big name cyclists in the team include Cape Town’s Songezo Jim, Tour de France stage 14 winner Steve Cummings and star British sprinter Mark Cavendish.
The team is in Cape Town to prepare for races next year on the Union Internationale World Tour.
Dimension Data, under the previous name of MTN-Qhubeka, was the first South African and African team to compete in the Tour de France.
It made history when Cummings sprinted to victory on stage 14 – making them the first South African and African team to win a stage of the Tour de France.
The team was publicly nominated for the 2015 South African of the Year Award, which was won by comedian Trevor Noah.
Western Cape MEC for Economic Opportunity Alan Winde said the training camp would boost cycling tourism in Cape Town.
Winde said he hoped to attract 100 000 cycling tourists to the Western Cape each year.
“Cycling races… generate in excess of R700 million for our economy each year.
“Hosting the training camp enhances the global appeal of our province as a cycling destination.”
On Thursday, the team visited Khayamandi to hand over 10 bicycles to 10 children, which would help them get to school.
This is part of the Dimension Data charity programme which, since 2005, has handed over 60 000 bikes nationwide.
Wendy van Eych, spokesperson for the Dimension Data charity, said the bicycles were largely used by the children for travelling to school.“Each child or family plants 200 trees which have to grow to about 30cm.
“They then exchange the trees for a bike. This is part of the Wild Land Vision SA project.”
Another project included handing the bikes to children which, in turn, helped the children attend school daily, be on time and, in the long run, boosted their studies. - Cape Argus