This week the African Continental Cycling Championships will take place in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal from 9-14 February. Riders will be representing their nations in the hope of earning some valuable UCI points ahead of the 2016 Olympic year while also hoping to ride away with the coveted African titles.

Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will have 8 of its riders represented at the championships throughout the week. Jacques Janse van Rensburg, Louis Meintjes, Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Jay Thomson will represent South Africa. Merhawi Kudus, Natnael Berhane and Daniel Teklehaimanot will be in the colours of Eritrea. Adrien Niyonshuti will be flying the flag as part of the Rwandan team.

Racing for the elite men started on Monday with the 48km team time trial. The 48km individual time trial event takes place on Wednesday while the 161km road race concludes the championships on Saturday. At last years championships, Eritrea were the dominant nation taking the victory in all 3 elite men’s events.

“It is always a proud moment to represent your country," Meintjes said. "Among the African riders these continental titles are also very prestigious so the racing is always tough. Obviously with the Olympic year coming up the points that can potentially be won at these championships will also add further importance and difficulty to this years races.”