Despite RCS not giving MTN-Qhubeka a wild card invitation to the Giro, the team has not given up hope of getting to a Grand Tour in 2014.

They will head to Sanremo, where they are defending champions, through Gerald Ciolek, and Tirreno-Adriatico, but have not been invited to Il Lombardia.

"We'd like to thank everyone for supporting us in our efforts to get there. Our supporters have been amazing", and "congratulations to Androni Giocattoli, Bardiani CSF, Colombia and Yellow Fluo on their Giro wildcards." An official team statement read.

"Our aim is still to get to a Grand Tour this year and in the meantime we've got a fantastic WorldTour calendar, including Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan - Sanremo and some other major ones we'll announce in the future," the team said.

Many people believe that the team would do well at a Grand Tour after adding riders such as Linus Gerdemann and John-Lee Augustyn to an already impressive roster that includes, Sergio Pardilla, Gerald Ciolek and Louis Meintjes.

The team is only in its second year and should they get to do a Grand Tour, they would be the first team from the continent of Africa to participate in a three-week race.