Historic national champion ready for aQuellé Tour Durban

Daniyal Matthews, who recently made cycling history by being crowned as the 2025 South African National Road Champion, will be sporting his SA champion's jersey in KZN when he takes part in the aQuellé Tour Durban Road race on April 27.

By winning the Elite Men’s National Road Race in Midvaal earlier this year, Matthews wrote himself into the history books as the first cyclist of colour to claim the elite men’s title.

The new South African Champion and his Team Siata sponsored by Hulamin squad have entered Durban's favourite weekend of cycling, and with the support of a full team at the road race on Sunday, April 27, Matthews is expected to be prominent in the race for victory.

The full weekend of action kicks off on Saturday, April 26 with a trail run and the aQuellé Tour Durban MTB powered by Cycle Lab at Cornubia Mall. Sunday's road race starts and finishes outside Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Matthews was something of a surprise winner of the SA Championships after he was part of an early breakaway that worked together to established a big lead over the first half of the 165km course.

The front group dwindled to just four riders, but held enough of a lead to ensure that when Matthews powered away up a climb with Casper Kruger, one of the pair was sure of the win. The two then sprinted for the title with Matthews making full use of his track racing experience to claim the historic win.

The national championships included almost all the big names in South African cycling, and among those riders who were beaten by Matthews were international stars such current and former UCI team riders Alan Hatherly, Stefan de Bod, Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Travis Stedman.

Matthews, who will wear his national champions' jersey at the Tour Durban, said the win at the SA champs "was an incredible day for both himself and Team Siata."

“It was unbelievable. While sprinting, I kept thinking, ‘Wow, this is actually happening',” said Matthews. “It’s an incredible honour to wear the national stripes for the next year, and I’m excited for the opportunities this victory might bring.”

Team Siata is a prominent South African-based team that is passionate about developing cycling in South Africa.

They will have a full squad taking part in Durban and Matthews, who finished in the lead bunch last year, can expect significant help from teammates Matome Machaba and Marius Coutaud, who finished last year's event in fourth and 12th respectively. 

In 2024 Machaba was prominent throughout the race in a three-man breakaway that was only reeled in by the main peloton near the finish.

FULL SQUAD: Matthews, Coutaud, Machaba, Tlotlo Selala, Edward Xayisa, Butiki Ndebele, Ntsako Sarila, Sikelela Qwabe, Muaaz Kadar, Muzzammil Kadar, Sphesihle Magwaza, Riley van der Walt, Zamajibhela Mazibuko, Lubabalo Mnyaka, Keegan Stoffels and Lubabalo Mnyaka.