African cycling team Qhubeka NextHash will not compete in the WorldTour next year after failing to secure a new sponsor, the outfit announced on Friday. The team was denied a WorldTour licence by the International Cycling Union (UCI) earlier this month but had continued their search for a sponsor in the hope of a late U-turn. "This is an extremely disappointing moment for our organisation," the team said in a statement https://teamqhubeka.com/team-qhubeka-is-still-moving-forwards. It gave me such faith and belief that what we have done here is truly unique," said team principal Douglas Ryder. In 2015, Qhubeka NextHash -- then MTN–Qhubeka -- became the first African team in the Tour de France, with British rider Mark Cavendish claiming four stage wins under their banner on the tour the following year.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 25, 2021 04:22 UTC