Cycling SA has declined an invitation to Italy’s Giro del Trentino, one of the tougher women’s tours on the UCI cycling calender because, according to SA national team manager, Tony Harding,  “they have upgraded the tour and we feel it is now a step too far too soon for our ladies.

“With proper planning on an ongoing basis and better preperation of our women, South Africa will be invited to this event again. Part of that planning this year will result in Cycling South Africa sending a ladies squad to Europe for a 4 to 6 week period,” he added.

This is welcome news for SA’s top ladies, who did not want to compete in Trentino anyway, after finding the going very tough at last year’s event.

“We will definitely be holding at least one women’s training camp before they go overseas,” confirmed Harding. “We are committed to an on-going development programme in women’s cycling. There is a renewed interest in ladies cycling and various well laid out plans and strategies are currently being discussed,” he said.