Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.

For many young athletes, the difference between having a dream and being able to pursue it comes down to access: to equipment, facilities, coaching and, above all, the opportunity to believe in a different future.

That is where hope begins.

Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and ACE Trust are building on their established collaboration across Pretoria and Stellenbosch, South Africa, strengthening a shared commitment to creating opportunities for young people from disadvantaged communities through sport.

The ambition is simple: to give more young athletes the tools, support and confidence to discover their potential, pursue their ambitions and see what might be possible.

Building On Strong Foundations

ACE Trust has already developed an impressive sporting environment across its Pretoria and Stellenbosch programmes, providing young athletes with access to high-quality facilities, dedicated coaching and opportunities to compete.

In Pretoria, where the ACE Cycling Academy has been operating since 2023 at TuksSport High School, the programme continues to support the development of young cyclists. A purpose-built pump track, funded by ACE Trust on the University of Pretoria's sports grounds, represents a tangible investment in cycling infrastructure, offering young riders a dedicated environment to develop their skills and confidence.

In Stellenbosch, ACE Trust has established another strong sporting foundation, with encouraging results in athletics at national level and a cycling academy launched in 2025, creating further pathways for young riders to develop and compete.

Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is supporting this continued growth, bringing the experience and resources of professional cycling closer to communities where access to the sport can otherwise remain out of reach.

As part of this development, young riders will receive mountain bikes, providing essential equipment to train and compete in cross-country racing.

In a sport where equipment costs can represent a significant barrier, access to a bicycle means more than the opportunity to ride.

It means the opportunity to belong, to improve, to compete and to dream bigger.

From Stellenbosch To The Wider Cycling Community

During the recent South African Schools Mountain Bike Championships, Cameron Roach, Event & Activation Manager at Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, visited ACE Trust in Stellenbosch to meet the people behind the initiative, explore the facilities and see young athletes competing first-hand.

"What impressed me most was the quality of the environment and the commitment of everyone involved" said Roach.

"The facilities are genuinely world-class, but what makes this project special is the opportunity it creates for young people who might otherwise never have the chance to compete at this level.

"There is already some remarkable talent here. With the right equipment, guidance and support, these young athletes have a real opportunity to develop and see how far their potential can take them."

The visit reinforced the value of a collaboration built around a common purpose: creating meaningful opportunities through sport and helping young people turn ambition into achievement.

More than Racing. A reason to Hope.

For Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, performance and innovation define what happens on the road. But the responsibility and potential of professional cycling extend far beyond the finish line.

Through its growing collaboration with ACE Trust, the Team is helping to connect the world of professional cycling with the aspirations of a new generation, from the cycling facilities in Pretoria to the developing programmes in Stellenbosch.

Not every young athlete will become a professional rider. Not every dream will lead to a podium.

But every young person deserves the opportunity to discover what they are capable of.

Because cycling is more than a sport. It can be a source of confidence, opportunity and, above all, hope.

And sometimes, hope is where the greatest journeys begin.