Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) only African World Tour team, has announced a partnership with car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa will be the Official Vehicle Sponsor for the team for the next three years, from 2019 to 2021.
The car-maker’s logo will also be carried on the riders’ jersey collars.
As part of the deal, Mercedes-Benz will invest ZAR20m (€1.2m/$1.4m) into Real Bicycle Co., a bicycle design and manufacturing subsidiary of the Qhubeka South African charity, which has been linked with the team since the latter launched in 2007.
The investment will support an enterprise and supplier development fund in South Africa, allowing locals to be trained up to work in assembling and manufacturing bicycles.