Team Qhubeka Nexthash’s hopes to race as a UCI WorldTour team in 2022 are sadly over. The decision to cease as a WorldTour operation on December 31, 2021, followed an extensive global search to secure the long-term future of the team.
A release from the team noted… ‘This is an extremely disappointing moment for our organisation. As a team that from the outset has strived to play a hugely progressive step in cycling through our partnership with the Qhubeka Charity, highlighted by our unique purpose-led approach, to not be able to continue to do so in 2022 comes as a significant loss to the cycling world.’
The team is now looking to rebuild and continue to offer a platform for talent from Africa to progress to the very highest level of pro cycling.
To that end, Team Qhubeka will operate as a UCI Continental team in 2022, based in Italy, with a goal to return back to the top-tier in the near future. The team’s support for the Qhubeka Charity will continue – helping to raise significant funds and awareness.
Douglas Ryder – Team Principal said “We’ve seen spirit – Ubuntu – firmly take hold and extend beyond our team into our fan base and into the media; so brilliantly documented in Rouleur magazine after Victor Campenaerts’ stage victory at the Giro d’Italia.
“We rose as Africa’s team from South Africa, to include all of Africa; from road cycling to mountain biking to women’s cycling and finally focusing on taking an African-registered road team to the Tour de France.
“We moved through the ranks, from a Continental team to a Pro team winning Milan Sanremo, a Monument, in our first season to becoming a WorldTour team for the last six years.
“We have moved Africa forwards in cycling, we have moved people through Qhubeka and we will continue our movement that bicycles do change people’s lives. Having the world championships take place in Rwanda in 2025 is a testament to so many working together and believing in Africa’s potential.
“To not have a team from Africa in the top two tiers of men’s cycling is a significant moment and something for us all to reflect on, particularly in light of where the world and sport is at the moment. We’ve had some incredible interactions during our search for a title partner in order for us to secure our future but unfortunately we were not able to conclude a deal in time.
“But Team Qhubeka is still moving forwards, our Continental team will be racing and we have other exciting projects and ideas that will see us continue to use our platform to change lives with bicycles.”
