The week of the 2016 UCI Doha World Road Cycling Championships has arrived and Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka has a number of riders in Qatar, all set to represent their respective nations as they do battle for the coveted rainbow stripes between 10-16 October.
The week of racing got underway yesterday already for our African Team as we had 3 riders competing in the u23 individual time trial. Our young South African, Stefan de Bod put in an excellent ride out in the desert heat to finish 11th, a solid effort by the first year u23 rider. Next up will be the Elite individual time trial on Wednesday followed by the u23 road race on Thursday before finally, the Elite road race takes place on Sunday.
Much has been said about the Worlds being located in Doha, Qatar this year but our African Team riders are excited to return to the country where we have already enjoyed success this year. During the Tour of Qatar in February, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Mark Cavendish each won a stage and Cavendish also secured the overall title. The Tour of Qatar also provided our African Team riders the opportunity to have a look at the majority of the 15.2km flat city circuit that is being used throughout this week.
While the city circuit is pan flat, there are numerous roundabouts to contend with but the main challenges will come in the form of the heat and infamous Qatari wind, especially during the Elite road race as riders will make a 140km trip along the Arabian Gulf before entering the circuit on The Pearl Qatar island. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka have a few specialists in these trying conditions with Mark Cavendish and Edvald Boasson Hagen both real contenders for Sunday’s road race Rainbow Jersey.
Here is our full list of riders competing at the 2016 UCI Doha World Road Championships
Eritrea
Daniel Teklehaimanot (TT & RR)
Natnael Berhane
Mekseb Debesay
Metkel Eyob
Merhawi Kudus (u23 TT & RR)
Amanuel Gebreigzabhier (u23 TT & RR)
South Africa
Ryan Gibbons
Nic Dougall
Stefan de Bod (u23 TT & RR)
Great Britain
Mark Cavendish
Steve Cummings (TT & RR)
Rwanda
Valens Ndayisenga
Bonaventure Uwizeyimana (u23 RR)
Algeria
Youcef Reguigui
Australia
Mark Renshaw
Austria
Bernhard Eisel
Belarus
Kanstantsin Siutsou (TT & RR)
Ireland
Matt Brammeier
Norway
Edvald Boasson Hagen (TT & RR)
Spain
Omar Fraile
For more info on the 2016 UCI Doha World Road Championships see the official site: http://www.dohacycling2016.com/
