8 May 2013

Team MTN-Qhubeka powered by Samsung is heading to France for its first race organized by ASO, the body which also organizes the Tour de France, as it takes on the Tour de Picardie from 10 to 12 May.

The first African-based Professional Continental team will look to young Italian sprinter Kristian Sbaragli to shine in northern France.

"Tour de Picardie is a very important race for the team as it is the first ASO race we have been invited to participate in," Team Principal Doug Ryder said in a statement.

'Very competitive'

"We want to show the ASO that our African team is very competitive, even though we don't have a full team of riders suited for the type of race it is, as we have mostly climbers going, but the team will be present and attentive in all the stages.

"I am hoping our young Italian Kristian Sbaragli will do well in the sprints."

In addition to Sbaragli, the team is sending South Africans Bradley Potgieter, Martin Wesemann, Louis Meintjes, and Songezo Jim, Algerian Youcef Reguigui, Eritrean Meron Russon, and Spanish climber Sergio Pardilla to the race.

One for the sprinters

The three-day event, which has been held for more than 75 years, is traditionally one for the sprinters, and exposes the peloton to a lot of wind on the mostly flat terrain. While all three stages feature climbs, none are ranked.

The first stage runs 189.9km from Guise to Flixecourt, and the second stage covers 171km from Oisemont to Bailleul-sur-Thérain, including three small climbs.

The races ends on Sunday with a 171km haul from Nanteuil-le-Haudouin to Soissons. All three stages are expected to end in mass sprints.

Team MTN-Qhubeka will face strong sprinting competition in the race. Last year's winner, John Degenkolb of Argos-Shimano, will look to repeat his victory, but will come up against, among others, Arnaud Demare of FdJ, who recently dominated the Four Days of Dunkirk.

Recent results

Jaco Venter finished in 12th place overall in the Four Days of Dunkirk, which ended on Sunday, while Martin Reimer produced three top-20 finishes.

A week ago, the team's German star Gerald Ciolek placed fifth in the Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt in Frankfurt. In March, he captured the prestigious Milan-San Remo title.