As the most aggressive player on the transfer market ahead of the 2015 season, MTN-Qhubeka have undergone a serious transformation, becoming arguably one of the strongest one-day competitors at the Pro Continental level. Debuting in the Tour de France still remains their biggest objective, though, and one of the brightest South African gems – Louis Meintjes, should be the one to shine in France.

The 22-year old South African takes nothing for granted, though, and ambitiously wants to earn his spot in the 9-rider squad for the Tour, should MTN-Qhubeka receive one of available wildcard invitations. Meintjes will kick off his campaign in the star-studded Tour of Oman, which he considers a perfect opportunity to prove his prowess as a climber and future Grand Tour contender.

“I don’t want to be named in the line up just because I am African,” Meintjes told Cycling Weekly.

“I want to prove that I am one of the best nine riders in the team. I want to fight for my place and prove that I deserve to be there and hopefully I am good enough to make the selection.”

Encouraged by promising results obtained in the 2014 season, including fifth place overall at the Giro del Trentino, U23 road race silver medalist from Florence hopes to make another step forward this year. His ambitions seem to aim much higher, though.

“The biggest thing is the confidence I gained and seeing that it’s possible to get a result. You always think other guys have special talent and maybe you’re not physically capable but I got that feeling that it’s possible to fight to be the best in the world.”

Asked whether a significant change in MTN-Qhubeka line-up might affect a development of his own career, Meintjes reasonably pointed out to both advantages and downsides of such situation. 

“Obviously it’s a whole bigger team so there’s more expectation and more pressure. I don’t think [it’s going to be harder to win with the new riders]. It goes both ways. Maybe I will have fewer days where I can race for myself but when I do, I will have a stronger team to support me because of the new guys that have come in. Maybe it will make winning a race a little easier,” he concluded in the interview for Cycling Weekly.