WHERE IT ALL BEGAN?
It was back in 2016 that several first year U23 South African riders found themselves effectively without teams. Financial backing was becoming increasingly hard to find, the knock-on effect being little growth and opportunity in the club teams.
Enter PROTOUCHβ’, a new and self-funded team set up to cater for U23 South African road cycling talent. With the vastly experienced Tony Harding at the helm, our self-funded team set out with a singular focus: to enable South African riders to perform. And how this goal has manifested itself.
In its first three years, PROTOUCHβ’ went from strength to strength, culminating in overall victory at the 2018 SA Road Cycling Series and countless other domestic racing victories. Seven PROTOUCHβ’ riders were selected for National Team duty that year, and the Team achieved four podium finishes in the toughest of African stage races β the Tour du Rwanda.
Despite this home-ground success, it was clear that focussing solely on South African racing was not preparing our Athletes for international racing. Local events cater primarily for mass-participation and, shorter racing distances. Coupled with the limited spectator value and media coverage, attracting sponsorship and investment was still proving to be difficult.Β The unsustainable Federation model was also impacting on National Team participation by its athletes [also self-funded].
SO, WE EMBARKED ON SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER
In 2019, PROTOUCH registered a Continental Elite Menβs Road Cycling Team β PROTOUCHβ’ PRO CYCLING TEAM – around a core of South African riders, with the aim to become the #1 Team in Africa and, to ride for something bigger than just a Team.
Racing alongside top African, Asian, American and European Continental and Pro Continental Teams, PROTOUCH finished off our 2019 season with: four Stage Wins; four Sprinters Classification Jerseys; nine Top 10 General Classification finishes; sixty-eight Top 10 Stage Finishes; thirty-two Top 20 Stage Finishes; and, a Gold/ Silver Medal at the African Games. PROTOUCH has remained the #1 UCI Continental Team in Africa, for two consecutive years.
2020 & THE PANDEMIC
We were lucky enough to participate in three international UCI Tours before COVID-19 halted our 2020 season, these included: a return to Gabon β Tropicale Amissa Bongo, Β [UCI 2.1] which we completed with four Top 10 stage and seven Top 20 stage and, two Top 15 General Classification finishes. With the goal of a podium, at the South African National Championships, we brought home two podiums β both 3rd places alongside World Tour riders β in both the Road Race and Individual Time Trials and, four of our riders finishing in the Top 10 [Road Race and Individual Time Trial events]. We then headed back to Africaβs Toughest Tour, Tour du Rwanda [UCI 2.1] concluding this with a 4th Place in the General Classification and, six Top 10 stage and three Top 20 stage finishes. Our final Tour before lockdown, was Tour de Taiwan, where the Team finished off with five Top 20 places.
OUR ECOSYSTEM
PROTOUCH spearheaded the SUPPORT SA TALENTβ’ Project which recognises top South African talent through its Road Cycling Series β tracking and ranking over 1Β 000 athletes, across 30 road cycling events annually; its Virtual Racing Series – using its own event on Zwift; a new Pro Racing League (launching in 2021) – to crown the Best SA Team; and, a Marketplace β where cycling enthusiasts can access preferentially-priced products, while supporting athletes.
In partnership with Phil Liggett – the global voice of cycling β PROTOUCH established THE PHIL LIGGETT FOUNDATIONβ’ a non-profit organisationΒ set up to raise funds for athletes participating in UCI Continental Teams and SA National Team and, is supported by National Road Champions, Ryan Gibbons and Ashleigh Moolman Pasio as well as ex professional rider and commentator Johnny Koen.
PROTOUCH developed FUND YOUR PASSIONβ’ a crowdfunding platform to enable fundraising for athletes, teams and events.
This capability has been extended now, by registering the an ATHLETE IMPACT INVESTMENT PROJECT providing South African Investors the ability toΒ invest in and, maximise their tax allowance.Β By leveraging the South African National Treasury-approved Section 12J Investment Channel, Investors benefit from both the tax deduction and, a return on their full investment.
We are ready to take the next step forward…
IMPACT ENGINEERS – the Team, behind our Team
REBECCA ELIOT
Serial entrepreneur who has enjoyed a 30-year ‘idea engineering’ career in Impact and Affinity Projects. Having been part of the start-up team for MySchool Programme, Rebecca’s experience spans the retail, financial services, hospitality and, healthcare industries – with a specific focus on unlocking value and rewards programmes and, developing enhanced value propositions.
She is the mastermind behind the Support SA Talent and Invest In a Dream Projects and, her experience in the rewards industry, provides the expertise required to launch the Athlete Affinity Programme and Athlete Rewards Programme, both planned to be released this year.
Rebecca is responsible for business development, partner and investor relations, as well as the marketing and building of the the PROTOUCHβ’ brand.
BRAD ELIOT
Having obtained his B Compt Honours at the University of South Africa, Brad went on to complete his HDip Accounting and acquire his CA (SA). He completed his articles at Deloitte and Touche, before joining Alexander Forbes in 1998 as a Corporate Finance executive. Working in various roles over his 18 year tenure, mainly as Group Information Officer. He was appointed as a non-executive director at Astute Financial Services Exchange in 2018 and joined the Multichoice group in 2019 as Group Chief Information Officer.
As an athlete himself – having been awarded provincial and Springbok colours for Yacht Racing – he co-founded the ProTouch Team in 2016, with Tony Harding.Β Brad is also a UCI Level 1 Coach and is a keen road and mountain biker.
TONY HARDING
Tony has a 30-year career in the South African road cycling industry, which commenced in 1987 when he first started working with a young Robert Hunter who, went on to win a stage at Le Tour de France.
He served as the National Team Manager from 2002 to 2008, attending both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games as well as 2006 Commonwealth Games, where South Africa won a silver medal.
Tony has worked with the majority of road cyclists in South Africa and managed his own teams, prior to founding the ProTouch Team with Brad Eliot in 2016.
Tony concentrates his efforts as ProTouch’s Team Principal on identification of talent for our Team, input into UCI event calendar and race strategy.
CARLA PATROCINIO
Carla Patrocinio is a qualified sport scienctist and Biokineticist with a special interest in cycling. She is a qualified sports massage therapist and been massaging in the industry for over 8 years.
Carla is PROTOUCH’s official Biokinetics Partner and provides the Team expertise, both on Tour and during training blocks.
Carla has also started a fitness concept called bikekinetic which is targeted at all cyclists, by offering in person or online services assisting with proper conditioning and exercise rehab all pertaining to cycling.
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