Ryder Cycling today announced that South African cyclist, Louis Meintjes will return to Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka in 2018. Meintjes (25), placed eighth in the General Classification at the 2016 and 2017 Tour de France.
Meintjes signing further accelerates Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka’s ambition to take African cycling to the highest level.
Founded in 2007 by Doug Ryder, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka has notched up several milestones in the past decade. In 2013, it became Africa’s first-ever UCI-registered Professional Continental cycling team. In 2015, the team made history by becoming the first African team to compete in the Tour de France alongside four other wild-card teams. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka secured World Tour status in 2016 and signed sprinter, Mark Cavendish, whose performance during last year’s Tour de France catapulted the team to fame, when he won four stages.
Louis Meintjes – Rider
Douglas Ryder – Team Principal, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka
On 18 July 2015 – Mandela Day – Steve Cummings won a stage of the Tour de France for the African team. In the 2016 Tour de France, Steve Cummings won another stage and Mark Cavendish scooped four stage wins to catapult the team to fame. In the same year, the team notched up 33 race wins, 71 podiums, 8 national championships, and a Grand Tour jersey. The team has continued to excel in 2017 with a stage win in the Giro for Omar Fraile, and a stage win in the Tour de France for Edvald Boasson Hagen.
With Louis’ track record and the experience he’s gained in Europe over the last two years, combined with the upcoming talented new signings, we believe the team is set to do great things in 2018 and beyond. We look forward to being part of that journey.
Jeremy Ord – Executive Chairman, Dimension Data
Anthony Fitzhenry – Founder, Qhubeka
Deloitte is delighted to see Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka’s ongoing commitment to the continent of Africa, the children who have been helped through charity, and African cycling. They continue to build a world-class team and we look forward to supporting the team through our digital capabilities as they race their way to the top of the podium by 2020. Together, we can continue to make an impact that matters and help Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka powered by Deloitte go beyond their goal of 100,000 bicycles distributed through the #BicyclesChangeLives campaign and take African cycling to the next level.
Jim Moffatt – Managing Principal, Deloitte Global Consulting