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Friday 23 March sees the start of the UCI 2.2 Tour du Maroc, a 10-day stage race that marks the start of a three-month period of racing abroad for the MTN-Qhubeka Men’s Road Team.
The 2012 team that will take on the North African race comprises Arran Brown, Brad Potgieter, Dennis van Niekerk, Martin Wesemann, Meron Russom and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg.
MTN-Qhubeka has had some success here before, in 2011 the team racked up 4 stage wins with Brown and Janse van Rensburg achieving three of them, the team also finished 2nd and 5th in the overall General Classification. This year, the men hope to improve on past results and cement MTN-Qhubeka’s positioning as the leading continental pro team. The Tour du Maroc also serves as preparation for a tough racing programme that will keep them away from home shores until 11 June. The 11-week schedule includes events in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg as well as a dual program in Africa with races in Eritrea and Gabon.
“Team MTN-Qhubeka is ready to take the next step and perform at the European races,” says Sports Director Jens Zemke. “We will start with a tough program of UCI 1.1 races like Pino Cerami on 5 April and Rund um Köln on Easter Monday directly after arriving from the Tour du Maroc.”
Zemke notes that it will take a few days for the riders to adapt to the colder climate and harder, longer and tougher races. “But I have no doubts that we will surprise competitors in some races,” he says. “The men have showed an amazing will to win and they have already won some important races for us.”
The first stage of the Tour du Maroc kicks off on Friday 23 March from Tangier to Tetouan and is 130km. The team arrived in Morocco on 21 March and the cyclists have been using the time to acclimatise and prepare for the 10 days of racing.
The Tour du Maroc stages are as follows:
· Stage 1; Friday 23 March 2012: Tangier to Tetouan – 130km
· Stage 2; Saturday 24 March: Ouezzane to Fez – 150km
· Stage 3; Sunday 25 March: Fez to Khenifra – 152km
· Stage 4; Monday 26 March: Khenifra to Midelt – 144km
· Stage 5; Tuesday 27 March: Midelt to Errachidia – 126km
· Stage 6; Wednesday 28 March: Errachidia to Tinerhir – 137km
· Stage 7; Thursday 29 March: Tinerhir to Ouarzazate – 170km
· Stage 8; Friday 30 March: Ouarzazate to Marrakech – 190km
· Stage 9; Saturday 31 March: Marrakech to El Jadida – 179km
· Stage 10; Sunday 1 April: El Jadida to Casablanca – 120km
The remaining program includes the following international events:
· 5 April; Grand Prix Pino Cerami UCI1.1 – Belgium
· 9 April; Rund um Koln UCI1.1 – Germany
· 21 April; Arno Wallard Memorial UCI1.2 – Netherlands
· 22 April; Ronde van Noord Holland UCI1.2 – Netherlands
· 24 – 29 April; La Tropical Amissa Bongo UCI2.1 – Gabon
· 25 April – 1 May; Tour of Bretagne UCI2.2 – France
· 4 – 5 May; Ronde van Overijssel UCI2.2 – Netherlands
· 6 May; Circuit de Wallonie UCI1.2 – Belgium
· 8 May; Challenge du Prince - Trophée Princier UCI1.2 – Morocco
· 9 May; Challenge du Prince - Trophée de l'Anniversaire UCI1.2 – Morocco
· 10 May; Challenge du Prince - Trophée de la Maison Royale UCI1.2 – Morocco
· 16 – 20 May; Fleche du Sud UCI2.2 – Luxembourg
· 26 – 28 May Tour de Gironde UCI2.2 – France
· 30 May 30 – 3 Jun; Tour of Eritrea UCI2.2 – Eritrea
· 10 June; Delta Zeeland UCI2.1 – Netherlands
“We are very excited to be putting together this European racing programme that also sticks to our team roots by including the races on the African continent,” says Team Principal Doug Ryder. “We are hoping to achieve as many UCI points as possible to qualify a rider to the London Olympic Games in August and many more riders to the World Championship in the Netherlands in September. Our team is ready for this challenge after a very successful start to the year in the local calendar, national championships and Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia.”
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