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20 year old Merhawi Kudus climbed to second place on the queen stage of this year’s Le Tour de Langkawi earlier today. The achievement by the Eritrean rider also ensured he moves up to second on the overall standing, trailing stage winner and race leader Mirsamd Pourseyedigolakhour (Tabriz Petrochemical Cycling Team) by 8 seconds. After getting caught in the final kilometre the previous day, Jacques Janse van Rensburg put on another aggressive ride to finish sixth on the Genting Highlands stage and is in the same position on the general classification, placing two riders in the top ten for Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung and putting the team in the lead in the overall team competition. “I’m feeling good and I’m really happy,” Kudus, who is in his debut season as a professional, said after the stage. “I did a good result for the team. At the beginning of the climb I thought I’d attack as my legs were good and I thought I’d try to get across to the leaders. When I got there I saw everyone was looking tired. I attacked them with 500m to go but in the end the other guy caught with me 100m to go. ...

This weekend will see Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung kick start their 2014 classics campaign at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. After team leader Gerald Ciolek won the bunch sprint for 11th place last year, the organisers have again extended an invite to Africa’s first Professional Continental team. After taking a stage victory at the Ruta Del Sol, Gerald Ciolek will lead Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung at the Belgian Classic and the German is positive going into Saturday’s race. “Taking a look out of the window confirms that we are in Belgium. Its 4 degrees and raining,” laughed Ciolek. “Today we are going to train on the circuit if possible. We have a good and strong team here and also our preparation in Mallorca and Ruta Del Sol has gone well so we are all very confident for the weekend,” said Ciolek. Ciolek will be supported by Ignatas Konovalovas, Martin Reimer, Andy Stauff, Jani Tewelde, Jay Thomson, Johann Van Zyl and Kristian Sbaragli. Sports Director Jens Zemke said they will be counting on the experience of this team to get a good result at Saturday’s race. “Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is a very special race for us, because the organizer Flanders Classics gave ...

Team training camp in Mallorca concluded this weekend, and the riders are now focused on getting back to racing. While we were in Mallorca, every rider received a Garmin VIRB camera for use while training in 2014. We had the chance to shoot and interview Lachlan Morton with the Garmin VIRB after a training ride last week. We asked Lachlan how he plans his climbing intervals during training rides, the answer might surprise you! Click HERE to watch the video. For a full training camp recap with photo galleries and additional videos, click HERE. The 2014 race season continues with a busy schedule in March. To view our complete race schedule in March, click HERE. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOWCt4uldIY[/youtube] Copyright © 2014 Slipstream Sports LLC, All rights reserved.

“This? This is Classics weather,” says Todd Herriot as he ponders his choice of gloves and leg warmers in the parking lot at Log Boom Park. Those words turned out to be quite foreboding of the two hours that followed. With spring just around the corner and the start of the road racing season in the PNW only a week away, this Saturday morning featured the season’s (or off-season’s) last Rocket Ride. The ride brings together some of the fastest riders in the area on an almost 50-mile trek of rural roads and hills. It is a tough ride on a good day. This was not a good day. Temperatures were pegged firmly in the upper-30 territory and the light drizzle turned to cold rain at 9 o’clock as if on schedule. The conditions continued to deteriorate until rain turned to sleet turned to snow. Major kudos to all of the riders and the finishers. A big thanks to Jim for driving the “photo car”, not getting us lost and always placing me in a good spot. Thanks to: Andy Bokanev

Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will return to the Trofeo Laigueglia this Friday after a successful debut in the Italian race last season. Gerald Ciolek finished in a fine 5th place last year when the team took on their first ever European race as a Professional Continental team. This year Ciolek will be racing at the Ruta Del Sol and so it will be up to the young Italian, Kristian Sbaragli, to lead the team during Laigueglia. Speaking to Sports Director Jens Zemke, Zemke justified Sbaragli’s leadership role. “Kristian deserves the chance to have the team ride for him, after a strong performance and a top ten in the Mallorca Challenge. He made a huge step and if he is climbing strong enough we have a fast guy for the downhill finish”. Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will not have all their eggs in one basket though.  “Jay Thomson is coming from S.A. with 2 medals from the Nationals. He will be motivated as well and could maybe surprise in a race like this,” Zemke added. Dennis van Niekerk will form part of the MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung team at Laigueglia and is expecting a tough race. “It is a really hard race I ...