Fans can support the team through the Qhubeka 5000 initiative
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.

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.

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.

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 (pictured below), 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.

Douglas Ryder – Team Owner

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.

Rolf Aldag – Head of Performance

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.

Team Dimension Data For Qhubeka
Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka was founded in 2007, steadily working its way up from a regional team to now being a World Tour team with bases in South Africa and Italy. It’s also known as Africa’s Team due to its focus on helping African talents to the world stage of cycling. The team races to raise funds for the Qhubeka Charity to mobilise people on bicycles in Africa. To contribute to the #BicyclesChangeLives Campaign, click here.

Qhubeka is an Nguni word that means “to progress”, “to move forward”. Qhubeka (qhubeka.org) is part of World Bicycle Relief (worldbicyclerelief.org), a global non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing education, health and economic opportunities by providing simple, sustainable transportation through the power of bicycles.

Dimension Data (dimensiondata.com) uses the power of technology to help organisations achieve great things in the digital era. As a member of the NTT Group, we accelerate our clients’ ambitions through digital infrastructure, hybrid cloud, workspaces for tomorrow, and cybersecurity. With a turnover of USD 7.5 billion, offices in 58 countries, and 31,000 employees, we deliver wherever our clients are, at every stage of their technology journey. We’re proud to be the Official Technology Partner of Amaury Sport Organisation, organiser of the Tour de France, and the title partner of the cycling team, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka.

Learn more about the team at www.africasteam.com.

All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.