TEG Continental-team is going to shift the boundaries of SA Cycling

Posted on November 05, 2018

TEG is shifting the boundaries of South African cycling from next year with the announcement that they are going to sponsor a Continental team.
 
For the first time, the emphasis is not just on giving riders the opportunity to fulfil their real potential by getting them to compete internationally. Hein Badenhorst who will serve as general manager and team director is following a holistic approach. That is why the team will be based at the UP-Tuks Future Africa Centre and be partnered with the HPC.
 
His idea is that each of the riders should also be studying because he emphasised the reality is that any cycling career can only last so long. 
 
“We want the riders to be adequately prepared for life after they stopped riding competitively. Each rider will get to choose what they want to study. At first, it could be any of the higher certificates courses at the University of Pretoria, but nothing stops any one of them from enrolling to study for a degree.
 
“The reason why we decided to go in a partnership with the HPC is that they add incredible value to our program. Their world-class facilities will serve as the base of our team. It goes with a support structure of physiotherapists, sports scientists and medical staff. The riders will continuously be monitored, and the data be used for cycling specific research at the university.
 
“But that is not all. Due to the concept that it takes an athlete in any sport about 10 000 hours of training to get to be at their best TEG has also gone into an agreement with TuksSport High School. Ten to 12 young riders between the ages of 14 to 17 will be based at the school. The genuinely talented riders will after they finish matric have the opportunity to ride for the professional team.
 
“What differentiates the TuksSport High School from any school is the way it is structured to find a balance between excelling in sports as well as studies,” explained Badenhorst.
 
Their training at the school will be overseen by Trevor Court who has been involved as a coach with the Dimension Data Cycling Team for the last five years. 
 
Court’s passion for what he is doing is illustrated by his favourite saying:  “Anything and everything is possible, it's just how badly you want to succeed.”
 
He will also be overseeing the coaching of the professional riders. 
 
The TEG-team will consist of 10 to 12 South African riders who will race predominantly on the UCI continental circuits. They have already acquired invitations to five European UCI stage races. The development mission is to have riders join the program for one or two years before progressing to Pro Continental or World Tour Teams.
 
 
 
 
- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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