Events

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka name squad for Tour de France

· By Press Office · 14 comments

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka will return to the Tour de France after a successful premiere 12 months ago, setting another massive milestone for African cycling. Once again the team will take to the start of the La Grand Boucle with clear objectives. Steve Cummings’ stage win on Mandela Day, Daniel Teklehaimanot’s days in the Polka Dot jersey and a fifth place in the overall team classification were the key results last year and are the signposts for our African Team’s goals for the 2016 edition of the race.

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With less than two weeks left to the Grand Depart it is with great pleasure and excitement that we officially announce the 13 rider list from which the final 9 riders will be decided.

Natnael Berhane [Link]
Edvald Boasson Hagen [Link]
Mark Cavendish [Link]
Steve Cummings [Link]
Bernhard Eisel [Link]
Tyler Farrar [Link]
Jacques Janse van Rensburg [Link]
Reinardt Janse van Rensburg [Link]
Serge Pauwels [Link]
Youcef Reguigui [Link]
Mark Renshaw [Link]
Daniel Teklehaimanot [Link]
Jaco Venter [Link]

As an African team racing to raise awareness for the Qhubeka charity, we head to the Tour de France with the goal of putting 5.000 African children on bicycles through our #BicyclesChangeLives campaign. We are extremely pleased to give the cycling community a chance to support us in this effort through the Qhubeka 5000 initiative [Link].

Having won both the Points as well as the King of the Mountains classifications at the recent Criterium du Dauphiné,Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka has underlined its ambitions for the coming weeks and will send a well rounded team to the Tour de France. 6 of the 13 riders on our squad come from Africa.

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Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot (pictured above) is certainly the most famous one among them. He’ll be accompanied by fellow countryman Natnael Berhane, reigning South African road race champion Jaco Venter, Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg and Jacques Janse van Rensburg, who both have been part of the team that competed in the 2015 Tour de France, as well as Algerian Youcef Reguigui.

Our 6 African men will be complemented by Edvard Boasson Hagen, Mark Cavendish, Steve Cummings, Bernhard Eisel, Tyler Farrar, Serge Pauwels and Mark Renshaw who will help to champion our #BicyclesChangeLives campaign cause and the Qhubeka 5000 initiative at the Tour de France.

Most of our team riders will head to their respective National championships later this week, and it is only after these events that the decision will be made as to who the final 9 Tour de France riders will be.

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We have an incredible squad of riders with lofty goals and big dreams like a year ago. We have new partners and a new look but the same purpose. It is a privilege to be a part of the Tour de France and to be able to leverage the global power of the event to make an impact that matters across the African continent by mobilising people on bicycles through the Qhubeka #BicyclesChangeLives campaign. This year there is an opportunity for you to join us to achieve the Qhubeka5000.
Douglas Ryder – Team Owner
The team achieved remarkable success so far and we are confident that the group of 13 selected riders will represent our team values and team spirit throughout the 21 days of racing. The Tour de France gives us the opportunity to showcase our team, to raise awareness for Qhubeka and to fight on every single day for the best possible result. We are highly motivated and believe that the race holds chances for all of our riders to make a difference, right from day one.
Rolf Aldag – Head of Performance

Comments

Mongoose!

Jun 21, 2016, 8:59 AM

Foreign team with a local sponsor.

Pure Savage

Jun 21, 2016, 9:02 AM

Awesome team except for Tyler WTF Farrar.

 

Unlike our amazing SA teams, Didata seem to have chosen form and skill over demographics. :)

Patchelicious

Jun 21, 2016, 9:19 AM

I am glad that Doug has selected form over demographics.

 

DD needs to win to stay at WT level.

Shebeen

Jun 21, 2016, 9:57 AM

this is not really news is it? no big exclusions. which 4 getting the chop?

 

 

Foreign team with a local sponsor.

DiData is actually owned by the japs now!

Pure Savage

Jun 21, 2016, 9:59 AM

this is not really news is it? no big exclusions. which 4 getting the chop?

 

 

DiData is actually owned by the japs now!

 

Most important is that little flag that pops up on TV :) Nobody really cares where the money comes from in cycling :P #drugmoney #Stolenmoney #bloodmoney 

Shebeen

Jun 21, 2016, 10:01 AM

here's the team from Giro - Jaco Venter the only oke on both squads.

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khm4252

Jun 21, 2016, 10:04 AM

Really great squad.  I hope to goodness Tyler Farrar does not go. He seriously is poor.  It would have been awesome if we still had Louis, I can see a top 10 finish for him this year. 

 

You have to think Daniel, Serge and Steve guarantee their places based on last year.  They also all in good form. 

 

EBH has to go based on form.  Cav must have been promised the race which means Renshaw goes as well.  I am sure Bernie was made that promise as well. 

 

That leaves 2 spots left for the other 4 Africans.  I think Youcef misses out for sure and probably Natnael.  So it will be between the 2 van Rensburg's as Doug probably wants to take the SA winner to the Tour. 

Eldron

Jun 21, 2016, 10:06 AM

Bring it! Can't wait to see little South African flags on the screen again.

 

Renshaw, Farrar, Van Rensburg will make a fine Cavendish delivery system.

 

Boassen Haagen and Cummings for the stage wins.

 

Teklemhainmantoanonmatoekmenanot for some spots.

 

Fine team.

robsc

Jun 21, 2016, 10:14 AM

Lets hope Fikile doesnt get his grubby paws on this 

Frosty

Jun 21, 2016, 11:49 AM

here's the team from Giro - Jaco Venter the only oke on both squads.

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Winning SA Champs may have something to do with that.
Frosty

Jun 21, 2016, 11:52 AM

Lets hope Fikile doesnt get his grubby paws on this

it's a RSA registered cycling team and not a team that represents RSA. Thank goodness!
Gen

Jun 21, 2016, 12:01 PM

it's a RSA registered cycling team and not a team that represents RSA. Thank goodness!

Thankfully
Shebeen

Jun 21, 2016, 2:28 PM

Lets hope Fikile doesnt get his grubby paws on this 

I think #razzmataz would actually enjoy going along to this one. live up the good life in the french summer for a bit?

BDF

Jun 21, 2016, 2:34 PM

I think #razzmataz would actually enjoy going along to this one. live up the good life in the french summer for a bit?

Would need a new jet for that. He will need an entourage because he can't actually do stuff and get around on his own - and no one would know how important he is :ph34r:  

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