"The vision is to conquer Africa": New South African Continental team signs WorldTour veteran and targets global calendar

The 2026 cycling season has begun with significant news for the South African peloton, as the Tshenolo Pro Cycling Team has officially received confirmation of its UCI Continental license. Following a successful campaign in 2025, the Pretoria-based squad is now finalizing its preparations to compete on the international stage.

Sponsored by a South African infrastructure company, the team has rapidly ascended from domestic racing to the third tier of professional cycling. The name 'Tshenolo' translates to 'revelation' in Setswana, a Bantu language spoken across southern Africa, reflecting the team's ambition to reveal new talent to the world.

Thabiso Rengane, the Team Manager, described the emotional weight of receiving the official notification from the UCI. He contrasted this with the team's sporting breakthrough at the Tour of Benin in May 2025.

"Since they both represented huge achievements for a relatively new team and for me personally," Rengane explained. "It was our first-ever UCI race as a team, and to come out victorious and take all those jerseys was incredibly exciting. Getting the confirmation from the UCI felt very different, but just as powerful. It represents a massive jump from where we started," he said in words collected by Cycling News.

Malusi Molewa, the Chair and Founder of the team, said that the progression was mostly driven by the athletes themselves. "You know, as in the business space, when one grows to a level where one feels they are ready to compete at a higher level, that’s exactly what you do - grasp the opportunity," Molewa stated. "The team was born out of the hunger from our riders; having said this, it’s our riders that will decide where the team goes. I will always be there to support them."

To support this step up in class, the team has secured the services of Reinardt Janse van Rensburg. The 37-year-old former WorldTour professional joined the project in 2025.

“I thought my days of pinning on a race number in a professional race were over, but at 37, suiting up for Tshenolo with their new Continental license feels like a fresh chapter," Janse van Rensburg said. "It means reigniting that raw passion for competition and the camaraderie of teammates pushing limits together."

He views his role as a mentor for the next generation of South African cyclists. "More than that, it's about giving back, mentoring the next generation, while proving to myself and others that experience and grit can still shine in a sport dominated by youth nowadays," he added. "This project isn't just personal; it's a testament to perseverance and the enduring passion of cycling.”

“From my ten years in the WorldTour, I am bringing a wealth of experience, tactical acumen, race intelligence, and professional habits that can elevate Tshenolo. Things like reading the wind in crosswinds, positioning in sprints, or conserving energy during races - these are nuances honed through years of experience.”

Beyond the men's squad, Tshenolo is laying the groundwork for a major expansion into women's cycling, with plans to launch a UCI Continental women’s team for the 2027 season. They have already signed significant regional talent, including 2025 African ITT Continental Champion Lucy Young, Taneal Otto, Monique du Plessis of Namibia, and Faith Tuhwe of Zimbabwe.

Young herself highlighted the historic nature of this ambition. "It would be the first-ever women’s Continental team registered from our country at that level, a significant milestone in the sport’s development here."

Looking forward, Team Manager Thabiso Rengane outlined a clear strategic vision: to dominate the African circuit while selectively testing the team in Europe and Asia.

“So far, it’s been working well. We’ve focused on performing consistently at a high level locally and across the continent, and the results have shown that we’re on the right path. Looking ahead, the vision is to conquer Africa and establish TPCT as the number one cycling team on the continent. Our priority is to compete in as many UCI races as we can across Africa, and to a lesser extent, Asia."

"Racing on the continent remains central to our vision, including the Tour du Rwanda. In addition, we are planning to tap into Europe to challenge the team at a higher level, including races such as the Tour of Rhodes and selected Grand Prix events in Greece," he concluded.