The MTN-Qhubeka team have announced that the young Eritrean talent Mekseb Debesay will join Team Dimension Data for the 2016 season as will Spaniard Igor Anton.

Debesay has been one of the most successful riders on the UCI African Tour this year, picking up no less than 7 victories which included 2 stage wins at last month's Tour du Rwanda as well as the overall GC win at the International Tour de Blida earlier in the year. The Tour d’Algerie and Tour of Eritrea GC victories are also among the 24-year-old Eritrean’s palmares.

With all of his success coming on the African continent thus far, it will take some time for Debesay to adapt to a full European calendar but the team believe his punchy climbing talent coupled with his fast finish will make him a rider to watch in the not too distant future.

The experienced Igor Anton will also represent Africa’s Team next season, adding depth to the team's climbing contingent. Anton is already a well known rider, with a number of prestigious victories to his credit. With stage wins at the Giro d’Italia as well as at the Vuelta a Espana, his pedigree is well established. With a stage and the overall victory at the Vuelta Asturias this year, the 32-year-old has also shown he is still hungry for success after 11 years as a professional.

"It’s hard for me to describe in words how I feel about joining this team. It’s a dream come true for me after five years of longing to joining Africa’s Team, which will race as Team Dimension Data next year," Debesay said.

"I always like riding my bike but joining this team adds another dimension to it due to its cause. Knowing to race for a greater good is something that I feel very special about and am very much looking forward to. It’s certainly a fortunate feeling. I always wanted to continue my career, but liked the idea to join this team. It feels like a good group of people and I’m really motivated to pin on my first number in the new outfit," Anton said.