All things Team Qhubeka NextHash

[Shebeen]

On 11/1/2021 at 2:58 PM, DieselnDust said:

 Maybe he needs to knock on the door of Aliko Dangote... that might stoke some fire under the arse and promote some success. Mr. Dangote is the wealthiest man in Africa, nett worth circa $13Billion US. The other African sponsors grew tired of promises and no delivery. Maybe the team is just damaged goods now? Too many bridges burned. There's enough wealthy people out there, but I can assure you, every one of them will want success. None will want to back a loser as that is a direct reflection on them. That is how the world works.

he's busy with other stuff already. cycling not that big in nigeria, it should be!

https://www.dangote.com/foundation/

On 11/1/2021 at 6:45 PM, DieselnDust said:

Maybe, will have to check the argust ride reports against racetec reality to weigh in on that one.all I could add was experience in sponsorship and altruistic gestures to assist the little guy.its seldom,...never long term. Why sponsor a cycling team when you could buy a brazzilion qhubeka bikes and get better mileage, kudos Facebook likes Instagram followers?

according to the qhubeka site, looks like 75 000 buffalo have been donated since inception in 2005.

not sure how many of those came from TQA over the years, but it would be a significant amount. (although TdF this year they were aiming for 108). 

but if we spitball the cost of the team to be $10m per year and a buffalo bike to cost R2k, then if you fold the team and plough that budget into bikes you get about 75000 bikes, per year. (Less champagne in the Alps though).

[shaper]

Is not the only African team with aspirations https://www.teamamani.com/ out of East Africa/Holland and as Rwanda seems to be on the up.  Perhaps whilst the African vision might be diminishing with TQN, others are looking to capitalize.

[Shebeen]

10 minutes ago, shaper said:

Is not the only African team with aspirations https://www.teamamani.com/ out of East Africa/Holland and as Rwanda seems to be on the up.  Perhaps whilst the African vision might be diminishing with TQN, others are looking to capitalize.

they're based out of a coffee shop in Den Haag?

nice website and idea, but a few steps below TQA, (and protouch for that matter). Maybe Giorgio will sponsor them eyewear as it's cheaper than a C&D letter?

[shaper]

2 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

they're based out of a coffee shop in Den Haag?

nice website and idea, but a few steps below TQA, (and protouch for that matter). Maybe Giorgio will sponsor them eyewear as it's cheaper than a C&D letter?

Everyone starts somewhere and as I said they seem to have aspirations as did Doug many years ago.  More exposure with TQA/Protouch/TeamAmani and others and perhaps something will rise again out of Africa.  TQA days seem numbered. when do they next have to submit docs to the UCI ?

[jcza]

Anyone know why no longer linked with World Bicycle Relief? 

[Danger Dassie]

2 hours ago, jcza said:

Anyone know why no longer linked with World Bicycle Relief? 

Qhubeka still carries an association with WBR as far as I know? 

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, Danger Dassie said:

Qhubeka still carries an association with WBR as far as I know? 

I don't recall there ever being a connection between the two other than operating in the same space and using the same bicycle platform. I recall a conversation with Alesha Myers a few years back where she mentioned there's some collaboration between Qhubeka and WBR but they operate completely independently. It's possible/likely TQA.# participated in one of those collaborative efforts

[jcza]

3 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

I don't recall there ever being a connection between the two other than operating in the same space and using the same bicycle platform. I recall a conversation with Alesha Myers a few years back where she mentioned there's some collaboration between Qhubeka and WBR but they operate completely independently. It's possible/likely TQA.# participated in one of those collaborative efforts

WBR logo used to be on jersey. I know it was there when Ciolek won MSR. 

[Eldron]

I'm pretty sure Qhubeka is WBR's South African arm.

The Buffalo bike is designed by WBR.

WBR and Qhubeka. Same same.

 

[Sid the Sloth]

2 minutes ago, Eldron said:

I'm pretty sure Qhubeka is WBR's South African arm.

The Buffalo bike is designed by WBR.

WBR and Qhubeka. Same same.

 

The power of Google confirms this (Wikipedia was not my only reference)

[DieselnDust]

57 minutes ago, Sid the Sloth said:

The power of Google confirms this (Wikipedia was not my only reference)

also on the Qhubeka website if you dig deep enough https://qhubeka.org/news/qhubeka-joining-world-bicycle-relief/

They were separate entities collaborating on the Buffalo bikes then sort of merged.

So with this information  they would have a large network of funders local and international, a brand that stands on its own. How does the team build the Qhubeka brand currently? Eight years ago it was a different story to 2018-2021

[Danger Dassie]

WBR and Qhubheka still operate as stand alone entities, including much of the funding. WBR has office space in Cape Town, the two collaborate and there may be cross funding/subsidisation facilitated by WBR. It's also very likely they compliment each other where need be.

While the metric measurement details aren't known. Brand wise Qhubeka has a larger footprint than WBR, largely thanks to the team who have been a big driver behind the programme's and opened up a lot of opportunities for the programme. Anthony from Qhubeka is an astute businessman and equally astute on social justice programmes, he's well versed in communicating the tangible benefits of Qhubeka. 

 

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, Danger Dassie said:

WBR and Qhubheka still operate as stand alone entities, including much of the funding. WBR has office space in Cape Town, the two collaborate and there may be cross funding/subsidisation facilitated by WBR. It's also very likely they compliment each other where need be.

While the metric measurement details aren't known. Brand wise Qhubeka has a larger footprint than WBR, largely thanks to the team who have been a big driver behind the programme's and opened up a lot of opportunities for the programme. Anthony from Qhubeka is an astute businessman and equally astute on social justice programmes, he's well versed in communicating the tangible benefits of Qhubeka. 

 

obviously Qhubeka get a huge level of exposure from the pro cycling team, with free naming rights. What is the loss to them if the organisation folds, is the production/assembly facility at Nederburg safe for instance?

[bradleyg]

To add my 2cents worth:

It would seem that Doug could register a Protean for 2022 if all else fails according to the Daily Maverick post.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-10-25-africas-team-fights-for-world-tour-survival-after-funds-dry-up/

“What we will do in that scenario is keep our Continental team going with the funding streams we have. There is also an option we could keep going as a second division [UCI ProTeam] and then rely on wild cards into big races. There is a lot of popularity around the team and, because of our diversity, organizers want us in races.

I suppose we will know by the 15th Nov. I would however like to see the team return to its roots if they go the Protean route and these still available riders would make a good African contribution. Natneal Berhane. Tsgabu Grmay, Willie Smit. Yacob Debesay. Mulu Hailemichael. Morne Van Niekerk and Youcef Ruiguigi. I believe that these African riders have a lot to offer and can still improve. A targeted 3-5 year plan to get back to WT with the aim of turning these African riders into consistent winners at Protean level ( some have won already ) and bring these riders along to WT should be an objective. We should improve comparably to Australia and New Zealand in terms of rider quantity and quality within the next 5 years if the focus can shift a bit more to improving our African riders. I believe they have the ability to get to that level within 3-5 years. I would think that focusing on winning one day to week long races to get the winning going as well as to give the sponsors a ROI. would be going in the right direction. We do need a team from Africa racing at as high a level as possible and since Doug has already succeeded here and is at the top already, it would be natural that he would be able to do it again. Most African WT riders have come through Doug's teams at some point so he has proven that an African team has benefit for African riders. I would love to see these 7 African riders together with Nic and Reiny form the core of an African team going in a new winning direction. If I had the money, that's what I would insist on. Wishful thinking I suppose.. But you never know...................

[TNT1]

14 hours ago, bradleyg said:

Willie Smit. 

Why is he leaving Burgos?

[Danger Dassie]

15 hours ago, bradleyg said:

Wishful thinking I suppose.. But you never know...................

 

7 minutes ago, TNT1 said:

Why is he leaving Burgos?