Doug Ryder has certainly come a long way since his formative
racing years in Cape Town.
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| Doug Ryder and his fellow SA buccaneers, circa 1994. (photo credit: Nic White) |
One of the outstanding SA riders of his generation, he was certainly
unlucky not to race at the top level in professional cycling. Spending several
years as a “journeyman” pro on various international and composite teams, Ryder’s
experiences on the fringes of the pro cycling circuit may actually have been a
blessing in disguise, given his Team MTN-Quebeka’s plan for expansion:
A former pro-rider with experience in a multitude of second-division
teams certainly knows the elite scene inside out, which is an excellent base
for the challenges of team management and sponsorship proposals.
Considering Team MTN-Quebeka’s modest beginnings in 1997, Ryder can be proud of their journey, especially considering the ’97 squad’s basic rider
salary was R700/month.
Read more about the well-travelled and articulate Doug Ryder
in this 2010 interview.
