The UCI Licence Commission has awarded a World Tour licence to Mark Cavendish’s new team Dimension Data (formerly MTN-Qhubeka). This is the first time an Africa cycling team has gained a licence to race at the highest tier of professional cycling.
Gaining the World Tour licence means that Dimension Data will be automatically invited to World Tour races such as the Tour de France and Milan-San Remo, instead of having to rely on gaining wildcard invitations.
At the same time Dimension Data also announced its intention to register a UCI Continental team for 2016 that will be based in Lucca, Italy. The team will allow young African riders to race in Europe and will presumably act as a feeder team into Dimension Data.
Douglas Rider, Dimension Data team principal, said: ‘I am so happy for this team, our partners and all the staff and riders that have worked so hard over the years to keep building this team to push beyond the boundaries and believe that anything is possible. To get this news on our training camp in Cape Town as we are bonding with our new team for the future is simply the best motivation to move forward into 2016.’
Dimension Data will look to build on the incredibly successful year it had in 2015 that included Steve Cumming’s stage win and Daniel Teklehaimanot’s polka dot jersey. The hope is that the new signings, Cavendish et al, will help bolster an already strong roster.
Also announced in the same press release was the registration of One Pro Cycling as a Professional Continental team. This means now allows it to apply for wildcard invitations to World Tour races. One Pro Cycling is Great Britain’s only Continental team.