Racing for the Future 

Founded in 2012 to offer a pathway for developing riders from historically disadvantaged communities the Exxaro Jersey has grown from strength to strength over the last decade. The competition has produced riders who have gone on to represent South Africa and individuals who are making a real difference in their communities. In 2024 the next generation of potential Exxaro stars take on the Absa Cape Epic challenge as they race for life-changing opportunities.

Along with the significant prize money, awarded to the top three men’s and women’s teams who qualify for the Exxaro competition, the winners and runners up will also get to share the gift of education. STADIO, a leading higher education group, provide a pair of scholarships which enable the riders to enrol in the online tertiary qualification course of their choosing. Curro, South Africa’s biggest private school network, offer the winners two bursaries which cover all costs from Grade R to Grade 7 at one of their schools. Each rider from the winning team gets to choose to either take up a STADIO scholarship themselves or nominate a child to receive the Curro bursary. The second-place team then receive the remaining prizes, which ensures that both STADIO and both Curro awards are claimed.

In 2024 the favourites for the competition are the Fairtree DPWorld Cannondale squad, who already notched up both the Exxaro and Amateur competition at Wines2Whales in November. Kusaselihle Ngidi and Damon Terblanche are prodigious talents who could well double up at the Absa Cape Epic too. Though they will have to see off their Exxaro Jersey rivals first.

Halalisani Njabulo Ndebele and Siyanda Gumede of the newly formed Coopetto Academy are a team who could potentially cause the Stellenbosch based side troubles. As could Tlotlo Mohweledi Selala and Masixole Zondani of Exxaro /Tamela 1. Exxaro Tamela 2’s William Sello Majapholo and Obvious Khorommbi are also a highly rated combination, while Siyabonga Ntsele and Gilbert Mathaba, of Exxaro Academy 1, as well as Molokela Modiba and France Motshegoa, of Exxaro Academy 2, are as yet unknown quantities.

The Citi Change a Life Academy will be represented by two teams in the 2024 competition. The Kwa-Zulu Natal based development squad are always competitive. Kwazi Mbhamali and Nhlanhla Mthembu are their top seeded combination, while Lindokuhle Ngubo and Sbonakaliso Msweli will also be in the mix.

Fairtree DPWorld Cannondale will also be represented by Ziandro Jordaan and Ongeziwe Tyapa, though with it being Jordaan’s first Absa Cape Epic they will be aiming for a solid finish rather than a stellar result. The final men’s Exxaro Jersey team to watch are Lethokuhle Mbuli and Asakhe Dyani, of Velokhaya Exinity.

The Exxaro Jersey women’s race could also see teams chasing both the light green Exxaro leader’s jerseys and the white of the Amateur category. Yomelela Mfazwe and Ongezo Mini are arguably the favourites for the former, due to the competitiveness of the Amateur competition. Though the Fairtree NTT team will face stern competition from the Khaltsha Cycling Academy duo Khanya Yenani and Sinokuhle Magungxu in both.