Citing tough market conditions, cellphone giant MTN has confirmed its withdrawal as headline sponsor of the MTN-Qhubeka cycling team.<\/p>\n
MTN had spent in the region of R100 million on the team since 2013.<\/p>\n
The SA outfit delivered a stunning all-round performance at the recently concluded 102nd edition of the Tour de France, finishing fifth overall (out of 22 teams) under the leadership of team principal Doug Ryder.<\/p>\n
The team also celebrated seven Top 5 stage finishers and 14 Top 10 results.<\/p>\n
Belgian Serge Pauwels was the leading overall finisher for the team, ending the 21-stage race in 13th position, while Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot held the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey for four days.<\/p>\n
Briton Stephen Cummings won Stage 14 which was particularly memorable as it came on what would’ve been former SA President Nelson Mandela’s birthday.<\/p>\n
Of the 160 (out of 198) finishers in the race, South Africa’s Jacques Janse van Rensburg finished 51st while his namesake – yet no relation – Reinardt Janse van Rensburg ended 96th.<\/p>\n
The third South African in the team, Louis Meintjes, unfortunately had to pull out of the race ahead of Stage 18.<\/p>\n
Qhubeka will compete at this year\u2019s Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a, scheduled to start on August 22. Whether they will have landed a new headline sponsor by then remains to be seen…<\/p>\n