This Sunday the Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung African climbers will be back in action when they start the GP Lugano. The 195km UCI 1.HC event will be the first European race for most of the riders starting on Sunday and they look forward to lighting up the race.

Fresh off their strong performance at the Tour of Oman, Jacques Janse van Rensburg and Louis Meintjes will headline the African team for this Swiss race. The Eritrean trio of Merhawi Kudus, Daniel Teklehaimanot & Natnael Berhane will also all start on Sunday. Nic Dougall, Songezo Jim and Adrien Niyonshuti make up the remainder of the race roster.

While last year’s edition of the race came down to a select bunch sprint of 11 riders, the tough nature of the 5 lap course could see a number of scenarios play out in Lugano on Sunday. Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will look to make the racing from early on in the hope of eliminating any sprinters who might be lining up for the event.

"I'm happy to have been back in Italy for a while," Meintjes said. "I'm looking forward to Lugano, it's pretty much starting my European season and it is cool that we are going there with a full African team, it is something special. Jacques and I are definitely on some good form so we hope to keep that going. The other guys are also all looking really good so hopefully we can do something on Sunday."

"Lugano seems to be a tough race on a pretty hilly circuit which we will complete 5 times," sports director Jens Zemke said. "Tinkoff-Saxo will be the team to beat as they rally around Ivan Basso who is a past winner of the event. 195km in the beautiful area of Lugano will see us fighting for a good result with a completely African team."