MTN-Qhubeka’s Jay Robert Thomson got a shot at riding some of the biggest races in the world in 2013 and both he and the team want the same for 2014, as Africa’s fist Pro Continental team is looking to take part in its first Grand Tour.

Thomson will also target the South African Time Trial, where he has been second to Daryl Impey on each of the last three occasions, and the road race, where he is the current champion.

He said, “Winning the South African title has more meaning to me than words could ever describe.” I will definitely be there to defend the title and I will go there in the best condition I will allow myself to have.”

With regards to the Time Trial, he said, “In 2011, I was 1 minute down on Impey. Last year I was 15 seconds down, so I’m closing the gap. Maybe 2014 will be my year for the ITT but the big prize is winning the road title.”

MTN-Qhubeka is attempting to become the first African team to go to a Grand Tour at this year’s Giro. Thomson believes the team “can offer something no other team can and that is that we are a fresh, new and surprising team. We have the team to be able to race day to day, maybe not win the GC but I think we have the talent in our team to show that last year was not a fluke.”

Thomson was part of the team that took part in Tirreno-Adriatico and, more importantly, he was part of Gerald Ciolek’s winning team at Milan-Sanremo in horrendous conditions. 

As for his personal schedule, he has described it as “open”, and “depending on how my condition is going to Europe I could either be racing up north in Belgium or doing the Italian races.”

Thomson already knows where he would like to be in the future, stating, “I’d love to win a stage at one of the Grand Tours or a Tour of Flanders. Those would top my list.”