The last time a Tuks cyclist managed to overall win the individual competition during the USSA Championships was in 2014; it is a statistic that the current riders certainly will want to rectify from Sunday when they start competing in and around Stellenbosch.

Judging by this season's results the Tuks men's riders have just reason to be confident. Andries Nigrini and Alex Worsdale the two riders who have been identified to challenge for the coveted yellow jersey both had some impressive results. 

Nigrini made Tuks sports history in February when he won a bronze medal in the under-23 time trial during the South African Championships in Pretoria. It is not often that Tuks riders medal at national cycling championships.

Recently Nigrini and a teammate finished second overall in the Panorama Cycling Tour. Amongst his other successes count victories in the individual time trial during the Mpumalanga Tour as well winning two mountain bike races. 

Worsdale was second in the Tshwane Diamond Classic. He was also part of the team that won the team time trial during the UCI sanctioned Tour de Good Hope and was third in one of the stages. 

During last year's USSA Championships in Pretoria, Worsdale managed to win the hill climb as well as the criterium race. 

The Tuks riders admitted to having erred last year in their preparation for the USSA Championships. 

"We did not really take time out to train together and to plan a proper race strategy. This time around, we did so. The plan is for Alex and myself to be the joint team leaders. In cycling, it can be risky to bank your hopes on only one rider as cycling tends to be unpredictable. It takes only one crash or missing out on a vital breakaway for any team's aspirations of winning to be dashed," explained Nigrini.

Worsdale is hesitant about making bold predictions. 

"Sunday's first stage over 125km will be as far as I am concerned to do or die.  If I can stay with the race leaders, I am confident of having an excellent tour." 

Kevin Patten was the last Tuks rider to win overall at USSA's. He did so in 2014 winning three of the five races.  Tuks was also victorius in 2013. 

The Tuks men's cycling team apart from Nigrini and Worsdale is Armandt Jacobs, Felix Manke, Kieran Mckenna and Kelvin Johnson.

Azulde Brits, Michelle Benson, Kyra Hempel, Tanya Kotze and Chalita Johnson will be representing the Tuks women's team.

The USSA Championships starts on Sunday with a stage over 125km. On Monday the riders will be competing in 75km (6 laps) race as well as 2.6km hill climb time trial. Tuesday they will be contesting in an individual time trial as well as a criterium race.