Even if the UCI have published the list included teams applying for 2016 WorldTeam and Professional Continental licences, MTN Qhubeka may still join WorldTour in 2016. According to CyclingWeekly, boss Doug Ryder makes it clear his team could be the first professional team from Africa to compete in WorldTour.

"There could be a possibility that the UCI comes to us in a month’s time and says, you’re at a high enough ranking to be in the WorldTour. A WorldTour licence gives everyone more opportunities, a Giro, a Tour, a Vuelta. What people forget is that a Pro Continental team has to beg for invitations, you can never plan. It’s like you are walking a tightrope."

This summer, MTN Qhubeka announced they will end their sponsorship at the end of this year. A few weeks ago, Dimension Data was announced as the team's new primary sponsor. The new team name will be "Team Dimension Data riding for Qhubeka"; the change in name is intended to demonstrate that the team supported the Qhubeka charity rather than receiving sponsorship for them.

Last week, Deloitte agreed to become a major sponsor of the team. With this signing, the team had the budget to hire Mark Cavendish, Mark Renshaw and Bernhard Eisel.

“It would be tough on our infrastructure, but for Deloitte and Dimension Data, it’s fantastic because it differentiates them from our previous team. They could be part of Africa’s first WorldTour team, that’s pretty significant,” Ryder explained.