Boasson Hagen 4th on final stage for MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung
What an incredible end to a perfect debut Tour de France for Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung. Edvald Boasson Hagen sprinted to a fine 4th place on the Champs Elysees for our African team on today’s 21st and final stage. Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) won the final stage while Chris Froome (Team Sky) won the Grande Boucle overall.
As the riders set off for Paris earlier today, it would be an incredible day of reflecting back on what was a dream 3 weeks for our African team. From the moment Daniel Teklehaimanot made history by getting the 102nd Tour de France underway in the Eritrean national jersey, we couldn’t have written a more perfect script for what was to come.
To ride away from the Tour de France after having Daniel spend 4 days in the Polka Dot jersey, a Mandela Day stage win courtesy of Steve Cummings, 14 stage top 10 results including 7 of them being top 5 placing’s, finishing 5th in the overall team competition and a 13th on the General Classification with Serge Pauwels ensured we exceeded all of our own expectations.
The exposure we were able to bring to our #BicyclesChangeLives campaign was also a resounding success as we received a massive amount of support from across the globe. We would dearly love to thank everyone: fans, media, fellow competitors, the A.S.O and all of partners for the amazing support we have received over these last 3 weeks. You were all a part of history!
Tyler Farrar – Rider
The Tour has been a dream come true. We had really big aspirations coming into the Tour, we set big goals for ourselves and we managed to meet every one of them so I think we really couldn’t have asked for any more out of the Tour. We won a stage, we wore a leader’s jersey, we flew the flag for the Qhubeka foundation for 21 days and that is a dream come true.
Merhawi Kudus – Rider
It was a really good and amazing tour for us. I am the youngest rider in the peloton so to survive all those hard stages it was not easy, I don’t think it is even normal but I am really proud and really happy right now.
About MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung
Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung was founded in 2007, steadily working its way up from a regional team to now being a Continental Pro team with bases in South Africa and Italy. MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung’s goal is to give talented African riders a path into the pro peloton while raising funds for Qhubeka. In 2015, MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung are inviting you to help them mobilise 5,000 kids on bicycles. To contribute to the #BicyclesChangeLives Campaign, click here.
Qhubeka is an Nguni word that means “to progress”, “to move forward”. Qhubeka (qhubeka.org) is World Bicycle Relief’s program in South Africa. World Bicycle Relief (worldbicyclerelief.org) is a global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education, health and economic opportunities by providing simple, sustainable transportation. Since World Bicycle Relief’s founding in 2005, it has delivered more than 220,000 specially designed, locally assembled bicycles to people in need. To contribute to the #BicyclesChangeLives Campaign, click here.
MTN (mtn.co.za) is a long-time supporter of Qhubeka and the team. Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting 219.2 million subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Learn more about the team at www.teammtnqhubeka.com.
Enjoy our fanzone at www.teammtnqhubeka.com/Fanzone.