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 the African Team’s goals for the 2016 edition of the race.

With less than two weeks left to the Grand Depart, the team officially announce the 13-rider list from which the final 9 riders will be decided.

As an African team racing to raise awareness for the Qhubeka charity, the team head to the Tour de France with the goal of putting 5.000 African children on bicycles through the #BicyclesChangeLives campaign.

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 the squad come from Africa.

Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot 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.

The 6 African riders 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 the #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.

Team owner Douglas Ryder said:

"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."

Head of Performance Rolf Aldag added:

"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."

Dimension Data long-list for the Tour de France:

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