Yesterday afternoon the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) announced the wildcard teams that will be taking part in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Fleche Wallone. MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung are delighted to have received invitations to both World Tour events.

The Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Fleche Wallone form part of the 3 World Tour Ardennes Classics, also known as the climbers classics. The Amstel Gold Race is the third event, which MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will also be competing at after receiving the invitation some weeks back already.

To be part of the biggest races in world cycling has been the African team's goal since turning professional in 2013. As one of the five monuments of world cycling, Liege-Bastogne-Liege (26 April) is not only a goal event for the riders but,it is important that the team compete in the oldest classic of all in order to further globalise the Qhubeka brand.

Fleche Wallone holds an important place on the international cycling calendar (22 April), placed between the Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. To have MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung present at the 'Walloon Arrow' ensures that the riders will have every opportunity to compete at the highest possible level while giving the team maximum exposure throughout the Ardennes Classics week.

As the team are extremely grateful for the invitations that have been extended, they will honour these events by bringing a strong line-up of riders to both races. Racing aggressively to show our team colours and finishing with a top result will be the intention. Louis Meintjes, the young South African rider, already stated last year that 'La Doyenne' is a race he would love to win one day.

"I am really happy about our teams Leige-Bastogne-Liege and Fleche Wallone invitations," Meitnjes said. "Liege is one of my favourite races and there is just something special about it. I did the race last year and hope to use the experience I gained to get a better result this year."
 

"It is an honour to get invited to the big Ardennes Classic races," sports director Jens Zemke said. "It takes time to achieve results in these tough races but our team with mostly African riders are getting there. We love the passion for cycling in this region with its long tradition and where famous riders have had their sweat burnt into the asphalt. We look forward to showing our stripes in both these races."