Reflections on 2013, the transfer season and the return of John-Lee Augustyn
Any cycling aficionado who has watched an episode of An African Bicycle Dream might agree that Team MTN-Qhubeka is rather different from most other professional cycling teams. Whilst the team's African nature is the central theme, it is perhaps their ability in maintaining a highly professional image whilst retaining something of a grassroots identity that could be one of Team MTN-Qhubeka's greatest assets.
When Douglas Ryder created the nucleus of the squad in 1997, who would have thought that a small, locally-based group of riders would eventually morph into a fully fledged professional outfit competing on the international stage?
With the squad having enjoyed a successful debut in 2013, Douglas reflects on the year that was, as well giving a great insight into what goes into running Africa's first ever UCI Pro Continental team.
When Douglas Ryder created the nucleus of the squad in 1997, who would have thought that a small, locally-based group of riders would eventually morph into a fully fledged professional outfit competing on the international stage?
With the squad having enjoyed a successful debut in 2013, Douglas reflects on the year that was, as well giving a great insight into what goes into running Africa's first ever UCI Pro Continental team.
Nature Gym: Douglas, as 2013 draws to a close, how would you describe
Team MTN-Qhubeka’s season? Would you say that the team has lived up to the
initial expectations set out at the start of the year?
Douglas Ryder: If you told me a year ago that in our first year we would win a monument in Milan-San Remo, podium in a World Tour stage race stage like in Tirreno-Adriatico, finish 2nd behind Europcar in terms of UCI race wins out of all Pro Continental teams, and prepare a South African rider to medal at a road world championships for the first ever in South African cycling history, then I would have said that would be a dream season for the team. Not only did we perform well on the bike, but we have also become one of the most spoken about and followed teams in world cycling. In 2014 we will ensure we drive stronger messaging around what we race for and what drives our team forwards.
Douglas Ryder: If you told me a year ago that in our first year we would win a monument in Milan-San Remo, podium in a World Tour stage race stage like in Tirreno-Adriatico, finish 2nd behind Europcar in terms of UCI race wins out of all Pro Continental teams, and prepare a South African rider to medal at a road world championships for the first ever in South African cycling history, then I would have said that would be a dream season for the team. Not only did we perform well on the bike, but we have also become one of the most spoken about and followed teams in world cycling. In 2014 we will ensure we drive stronger messaging around what we race for and what drives our team forwards.
NG: The team decided not to contest a Grand Tour in 2013. What were the deciding factors for this approach and do you feel validated this decision?
DR: In my presentations to both ASO and RCS Sport at the back end of 2012 we mentioned we did not want to compete in a Grand Tour in our first year at the Pro Conti / World Tour level. As a team we are not in cycling for marketing purposes alone, we are in cycling to show what Africa’s talent has to offer. Our riders are on a steep learning curve and had we gone to a Grand Tour and underperformed or our riders could not finish then we would do damage to our long term objective of bringing African riders into the World Tour. If our riders went back home to their countries and said the sport is too hard then it would delay the progression or put talented individuals off cycling. With our coaching and high performance culture we have seen that our riders are on a high level physically so we know what is possible but putting that together with bunch skills and European racing conditions is something we could not predict hence the reason for us to start conservatively.
NG: Cycling is different from many other professional sports in several aspects, one of which is the transfer window where new contracts are negotiated. Could you give some insight into the various aspects of this period and what are the specific rules governing the transfer window?
DR: The transfer period or contract negotiation period starts from 1st of August and ends 31 December. However most lucrative contracts take place during the Tour de France and are concluded by the 2nd rest of the Tour de France. With fewer teams in cycling this year (2014) riders are coming to the teams asking for contracts so it has been a bit easier for teams this transfer season but there are teams that continue to fight over a few key riders. We are the only team in the world that is going from 2013 to 2014 with the same team and that added 4 new riders of which 3 are African. With all the riders that are available we stuck to our strategy of African talent with European mentorship.
NG: Having been a professional cyclist yourself, what would you say are some key lessons you learnt as a rider that you have applied into the realm of running a large scale cycling team?
DR: In my day we did not start cycling to earn a big pay check as that did not really exist both locally and internationally. We started cycling because we had the passion for the sport and we loved the feeling of freedom and independence that a bicycle gives. And when you work hard and win your first race you want to do it again and that feeling lasts forever. In all rider discussions we have we go back to the basics of why they started cycling and we try and harness that passion or life changing experience and keep that flame alive in each rider by giving them the opportunity to perform in certain races. Our team is unique as we truly “believe” in bikes and what a bicycle can do for every person that has one as this is core to our teams DNA. We have turned many good riders away that did not have the same feelings we do.
NG: How has your role within the team evolved over the years?
DR: In 1997 when I started the first team sponsored by Lotus Development I was the team leader, captain and owner and that has now changed to being the team principal. With ambitious goals and team growth it is a full time job managing sponsor expectations and team strategy. I have been fortunate to surround myself with incredible people that are experts in different areas to keep our team shooting for the stars. The 11 years I spent in corporate working for IBM and then Microsoft were invaluable for my personal growth to be able negotiate in the boardroom and in pulling virtual teams of people together.
NG: Your staff compliment has a range of nationalities in addition to South Africans. How have you managed to build up your staffing network over the years given the “mondialisation” of cycling?
DR: Our staff is very strategic to our team’s success. Core competencies like health and performance we wanted to be out of South Africa as we trust the people involved, we wanted a South African press officer as it is important that our face to the world is local. When it comes to DS’s, soigneurs and mechanics we wanted the most experienced people we could afford that understand the European culture and environment as well as the races we were taking our team too to assist in fast tracking the team to success. Our team culture is different as we are not only about winning bike races, our team culture attracted many people to us because they wanted to be a part of something new and different.
NG: Much has been made over recent years of Team SKY’s marginal gains approach cycling, often flying in the face of tradition. What sets Team MTN-Qhubeka apart from your more traditional European counterparts? Are you guys doing anything radically different?
DR: For a start our team is different, just over 70% of our riders are from the African continent. There is no other team like ours in world cycling and one day we hope all teams will have riders from the African continent in them because of their work ethic and talent. Our high performance team culture managed by Dr. Carol Austin where we focus on every rider at a detailed level with monthly performance management meetings does put us up there with the top budget teams in the world. We also work closely with our partners to provide us with leading edge technology so we stay ahead of the curve. I believe this focus and the deep desire of our riders is what sets us apart.
NG: With your international experience as a rider in the 1990s, how are South African - and African riders in general – received on the Continent compared to in your era? Has there been a shift in attitude?
DR: In the 90’s when I competed in Europe we/I did not have the opportunity to compete at the highest level in world cycling. At the level I did compete at we were pushed around like we did not belong in the peloton. Thanks to Robbie Hunter who made the breakthrough for South African riders things have changed and we are now accepted and respected in the peloton. But respect is earned each time you in an event as the peloton can be a very lonely place if you do not follow the etiquette of cycling. Riders like Daryl Impey and Chris Froome have really helped us as they are hardworking nice guys, which is the image our riders and team portrays and we have seen in the last 2 years that our riders are well respected and can move freely around the bunch.
NG: It is great to see the return of John-Lee Augustyn to the peloton in 2014. How did this acquisition come about and how do you see John-Lee’s role evolving within the team?
DR: We have been talking to John-Lee for the best part of 2 years now to see how he has been getting along after his hip replacement both physically and mentally. During last year John-Lee realized he has unfinished business on the bike and he has worked so hard to get himself back into shape and he has the desire to get back to the top level of the sport. When I met him a year ago on holiday in December of 2012 I could feel he really wanted a 2nd chance. He is now ready and we are confident that he is ready. His experience with 3 Grand Tours under his belt will be invaluable to our South African and African riders and in our training camp he was already adding huge value. I see him as a leader in the future in Grand tours. Time will tell.
