Schlagwort-Archive: Team Qhubeka NextHash

TEAM QHUBEKA IS STILL MOVING FORWARDS

Teamnews,

We are deeply saddened to confirm that our hopes to race as a UCI WorldTour team in 2022 are over. This follows an extensive global search, during this unprecedented time, to secure the long-term future of the team.
In the last few days, our final possibility to continue at that level was not able to be concluded, and so the decision has been taken for the WorldTour operation to cease on 31 December, 2021.
This is an extremely disappointing moment for our organisation. As a team that from the outset has strived to play a hugely progressive step in cycling through our partnership with the Qhubeka Charity, highlighted by our unique purpose-led approach, to not be able to continue to do so in 2022 comes as a significant loss to the cycling world.
Our list of successes on the bike has seen us experience incredible highs. Many will remember the amazing achievements of Gerald Ciolek, Steve Cummings, Mark Cavendish, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Ben King, Omar Fraile, Kristian Sbaragli, Ben O’Connor, Giacomo Nizzolo, Victor Campenaerts and Mauro Schmid raising their hands in delight crossing the finish line – in celebration of our purpose.
As important are the moments that saw Nic Dlamini and Daniel Teklehaimanot make history in riding the Tour de France for us, highlighting of the challenges African riders face just to get the opportunity to race in Europe like in the case of Negasi Haylu Aabreha, the inspiring group of young club riders from Khayelitsha who traveled with us to the Grand Depart in Brussels, and of course the incredible Qhubeka Charity – to name just a few. Our team has been a home for one and all, and carried the hopes and dreams of a continent and far beyond.
A Qhubeka bike distribution ceremony is still one of the most incredible events one can attend. One that in a single moment illustrates completely the true value of a bicycle, and the role that it has in changing lives.
We want to thank all of our fans for their incredible, unwavering support, and for placing your trust in us for being at the forefront of changing our sport. For that we will forever be grateful and so we hope that you will continue to support us into the future as we now take the next step in our journey.
Make no mistake, this announcement is one that weighs heavy but now more than ever has invigorated and motivated us to rebuild and to once again stake a claim to be racing on the sport’s biggest stage, and all while ensuring that we continue to offer a platform for talent from Africa to progress to the very highest level.
To that end, Team Qhubeka will continue to operate as a UCI Continental team in 2022, which is based in Italy, with our goal to return back to the top-tier in the near future. Our support for the for the Qhubeka Charity is unwavering for whom to date we have raised significant funds and awareness.
Further details will be communicated in due course.
Douglas Ryder – Team Principal
On Thursday I sent an internal message to our staff and riders to tell them the news. It was one of the hardest things that I’ve ever done in my life. The responses have been so emotional and supportive.
It gave me such faith and belief that what we have done here is truly unique; when you work in an environment that has a bigger purpose and impacts others positively then it no longer feels like work.
We’ve seen that spirit – Ubuntu – firmly take hold this year and extend beyond our team into our fan base and into the media; so brilliantly documented in Rouleur magazine after Victor Campenaerts’ stage victory at the Giro d’Italia.
We rose as Africa’s team from South Africa, to include all of Africa; from road cycling to mountain biking to women’s cycling and finally focusing on taking an African-registered road team to the Tour de France.
We moved through the ranks, from a Continental team to a Pro team winning Milan Sanremo, a Monument, in our first season to becoming a WorldTour team for the last six years. We have moved Africa forwards in cycling, we have moved people through Qhubeka and we will continue our movement that bicycles do change people’s lives. Having the world championships take place in Rwanda in 2025 is a testament to so many working together and believing in Africa’s potential.
To not have a team from Africa in the top two tiers of men’s cycling is a significant moment and something for us all to reflect on, particularly in light of where the world and sport is at the moment. We’ve had some incredible interactions during our search for a title partner in order for us to secure our future but unfortunately we were not able to conclude a deal in time.
But Team Qhubeka is still moving forwards, our Continental team will be racing and we have other exciting projects and ideas that will see us continue to use our platform to change lives with bicycles. Our work with the Qhubeka Charity has truly inspired us, and will continue to do so. It should be a story that inspires all of cycling and beyond, and we want you to be a part of our journey.
To all of our former, current and future partners I want to thank you for your faith and belief in what we want to achieve. One thing I can absolutely guarantee is that we’ve always given our absolute best, and you have our commitment to do so in the future.
To all our staff and riders past and present thank you for your dedication and support, see you soon.

Team Qhubeka NextHash Update

Teamnews,

Today we are not in a position to submit our initial application for our UCI WorldTour licence for next year to the sport’s governing body.
We are actively engaged with potential partners, and our current partners, as we work to secure our future for 2022.
Since inception our team has provided hope and opportunity to over 50 riders from Africa who have ridden for us at either Continental, Pro Continental or World Team levels, and as a result have had the opportunity to showcase their talent and realise their dreams.
The recent news that Rwanda will host the 2025 World Championships is a huge moment for our sport, and one that we are very proud of in the role we have played in support of Africa, its cycling potential and as a destination to ride. Seeing Biniam Ghirmay from Eritrea come 2nd in the U23 World Championships this year was incredible. He was just 14 years old when Daniel Teklehaimanot wore the King of the Mountains jersey in the 2015 Tour de France with our team. Their stories, as well as the journey of Nicholas Dlamini from the townships in Cape Town to the Tour de France, are inspirational.
Across our Continental and World Team outfits we have staff and riders that champion our message – bicycles change lives – and enable us to be a platform to raise awareness and funds for the Qhubeka Charity.
We are completely unique across the sporting landscape as a purpose-led organisation that during the course of our decade-long partnership with Qhubeka has seen our team raise over $6M for the Charity, and in the process changed thousands of lives.
We remain confident that our story is not complete, our journey will carry on, to continue to change lives through bicycles.
I have always said that our dream for this team would be to see a young person from Africa, who starts their journey on a Qhubeka bike, one day race on cycling’s most famous road – the Champs Elysée. That will see the dream fully realised.
If you, or any of your business network, want to partner with our team and keep changing lives, please contact us here. Thank you for your support.
Ubuntu- I am because we are.

CELEBRATING FABIO ARU

Etappenrennen, Teamnews, , , , ,

Team Qhubeka NextHash’s Italian star rider Fabio Aru has confirmed on the eve of the Vuelta a Espana that he will retire from professional cycling at the conclusion of the 2021 edition of the race.


Photo by Plomi

Aru, fittingly, has chosen the Vuelta to conclude his professional career, an event that he won in 2015. It’s a decision that he has spent significant time considering and one which ultimately will see him focus on spending time with his young family.
The 31-year-old joined the team at the start of the 2021 season and says that he rediscovered his love for the racing his bike with Team Qhubeka NextHash, which culminated with him placing second overall at the recently concluded Vuelta a Burgos.

His stellar palmares includes:

• Overall victory at the Vuelta a Espana (2015) as well as finishing 5th in 2014.
• Twice finishing on the podium at the Giro d’Italia – 2nd (2015) and 3rd (2014).
• Six Grand Tour stages: 3 x Giro d’Italia, 2 x Vuelta a Espana and 1 x Tour de France (2017)
• 5th overall at the Tour de France (2017)
• Italian road race champion (2017)

Fabio Aru
Reaching this decision has not been easy but it is something that I’ve been thinking about and discussing with my family for some time. I’ve been racing my bike for 16 years and for more than a decade as a professional, but the time has come now to prioritise other things in my life, my family.

During my career, as any bike rider will tell you, a significant time is spent away from home and for me this is now the right time to give back to them.
I’ve been fortunate to realise my talent on the biggest stage of all, and together with my teammates celebrate incredible successes.
I hope that I have been able to demonstrate the true values of sportsmanship over my career, and in doing so made people proud.
I also want to express a deep sense of gratitude to all of my former teammates and staff at my former teams – Astana and UAE – who elevated me throughout my career. We shared some incredible moments which I’ll forever be grateful for.
Finally, I want to pay a special tribute to Team Qhubeka NextHash. Within our organisation we speak about the spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are – and this sense of togetherness, at a time when the world needs it most, has been amazing for me to be a part of.

I must admit that when I joined the team I was aware that it was special, different but had no real understanding of what it would truly be like. This team, without doubt is completely unique not just in cycling but across all sport, I am incredibly proud to race here and honoured to end my time as a professional with them.
After a tough few years, in 2021 I was able to race my bike again and ride at a level that I knew I was capable of, while smiling on the bike. That is a victory in itself, and something that I will forever be grateful for.
I want to express my sincerest thanks to Douglas Ryder, Lars Michaelsen, Gabriele Missaglia, Mattia Michelusi and all the team’s staff and my fellow riders, it’s an honour to be your teammate.
In our team we speak about hope, opportunity and platform in order to be able to change lives with the bicycle. Having played my part in this will be something that I hold dear for the rest of my life, and I will forever be a supporter.
I will continue to ride my bike because it is what I love to do but for now I’m focused on riding the Vuelta a Espana to the best of my ability with my Team Qhubeka NextHash teammates; and it’s fitting that my journey will end here in Spain, a place and a race where I have incredible memories.

Team Qhubeka NextHash set for Vuelta a Espana

Etappenrennen, Teamnews, Vorschau, , , ,

Team Qhubeka NextHash has selected its team for the final grand tour of the season, La Vuelta a Espana. The Spanish grand tour will get underway on Saturday 14 August, from Padron, and will cover over 3400km before finishing in Santiago di Compostela, on Sunday 5 September.

Team Qhubeka NextHash was dealt a tough blow last week as our intended Vuelta a Espana race leader, Domenico Pozzovivo crashed at the Vuelta a Burgos and fractured his knee. Emil Vinjebo also crashed at the same race, fracturing his collarbone, forcing our team to make two late replacements to our La Vuelta lineup.

Fabio Aru and Sergio Henao will now share responsibility in leading Team Qhubeka NextHash at La Vuelta a Espana. Aru has shown an impressive return to form in recent weeks, and as a previous winner of the Vuelta a Espana, we are proud to have the Sardinian lead our team at La Vuelta.
Henao makes a return to racing after a strong showing at the Tour de France this year, where he infiltrated numerous mountain stage breakaways and was set to ride into the top 20 overall before fracturing his arm in a crash, which slowed the Colombian climber though he did complete the race in Paris.
With Aru and Henao targeting the mountain stages, Reinardt Janse van Rensburg will be our man for the sprint stages. With three top-10 placings in sprints at last year’s edition of the race, the South African will be hoping to edge closer to the top of the results sheet with numerous sprint opportunities at this year’s edition of La Vuelta.

Dimitri Claeys and Dylan Sunderland, the two late replacement riders, will both be starting their first ever La Vuelta’s although the duo do have grand tour experience at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, respectively. Their strength and ‚diesel engine‘ characteristics will be key in supporting roles but also on stages for the opportunists.
Bert-Jan Lindeman and Sander Armee, both two former La Vuelta stage winners, will be leaned upon throughout the race as their experience and selfless team support will be invaluable in every race scenario.

Finally, it is a great pleasure for our team to have Connor Brown starting his debut grand tour. A graduate from our continental feeder team last season, the 23-year-old who has dual South African and Kiwi citizenship completes our lineup for La Vuelta a Espana.
Continuing with our team’s theme of getting fans, partners and supporters to announce our team lineup’s this year, for the Vuelta a Espana, our u23 Qhubeka continental feeder team riders have revealed our La Vuelta roster with a short video clip. We look forward to seeing these future stars at the start of La Vuelta one day too.

Fabio Aru
This will be my 6th time at Vuelta a Espana and I have really good memories here. My first Vuelta was in 2014 and I won two stages and finished in top five GC. I was fighting with great champions like Contador, Froome, Purito and Valverde, and that was a great experience for me. In 2015 I won the Vuelta and this was amazing, it really changed my life.
As a country, I really love Spain. I love the passion the people from Spain have for cycling. I think they also love me, my characteristics as a rider and my way of racing. When I have the legs I always try to attack and I think they really appreciate this way of racing. The parcour in general, all the stages and big climbs in Spain I always enjoy a lot.
So I can’t wait to be back, at a grand tour again, because as we know the last three years have been really hard for me. This year, I have had a new start with a new team, which has a great Ubuntu spirit which I am part of, and new goals. This has allowed me to get that good feeling back on the bike, from GP Lugano until Burgos, which I am very happy about.
I will give my 100% at La Vuelta, actually even more than 100% for this team. We were unfortunate to lose two very strong riders before Vuelta, Pozzovivo and Vinjebo, in crashes at Vuelta Burgos. So as a team we will also be racing for them every day.

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
We are looking forward to getting the Vuelta a Espana started. A few of us have really focused our season around the Vuelta, and prepared well to be in top shape for the Vuelta. We had a good showing at the Vuelta a Burgos, our last preparation race, with some very good results, despite losing some guys to crashes.
We look forward to building on the momentum of Burgos and hope to make our supporters proud during La Vuelta.

Connor Brown
I was always one of those kids who was completely obsessed with cycling, whenever there was a grand tour on I was glued to the TV. Now to be racing one is an absolute dream come true! Maybe there will be a kid watching just as I used to, and they will be inspired to ride because of it. That is a cool thought. I want to thank the team for believing in me and giving me this amazing opportunity.

Vuelta a Burgos – Etappe 5

Ergebnisse, Etappenrennen, Teamnews, , , , ,

Comunero de Revenga – Lagunas de Neila – 146 Km

1 CARTHY Hugh John GBR EF EDUCATION – NIPPO 03:23:53
2 RUBIO REYES Einer Augusto COL MOVISTAR TEAM 00:05
3 YATES Simon Philip GBR TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE 00:07
4 BERNAL GOMEZ Egan Arley COL INEOS GRENADIERS 00:13
5 VINE Jay AUS ALPECIN-FENIX 00:14
6 LANDA MEANA Mikel ESP BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:16
7 BUITRAGO SANCHEZ Santiago COL BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:29
8 ARU Fabio ITA TEAM QHUBEKA NEXTHASH 00:37
9 PADUN Mark UKR BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:39
10 BIZKARRA ETXEGIBEL Mikel ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 00:43
11 YATES Adam GBR INEOS GRENADIERS 00:43
12 SIVAKOV Pavel RUS INEOS GRENADIERS 00:43
14 REICHENBACH Sébastien SUI GROUPAMA – FDJ 00:46
15 RODRIGUEZ CANO Carlos ESP INEOS GRENADIERS 00:48

Endstand:

1 LANDA MEANA Mikel ESP BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 18:30:00
2 ARU Fabio ITA TEAM QHUBEKA NEXTHASH 00:36
3 PADUN Mark UKR BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:43
4 SIVAKOV Pavel RUS INEOS GRENADIERS 00:49
5 DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO David ESP UAE TEAM EMIRATES 00:51
6 BARDET Romain FRA TEAM DSM 00:53
7 RUBIO REYES Einer Augusto COL MOVISTAR TEAM 00:58
8 BUITRAGO SANCHEZ Santiago COL BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 01:09
9 BOUCHARD Geoffrey FRA AG2R CITROEN TEAM 01:21
10 REICHENBACH Sébastien SUI GROUPAMA – FDJ 01:39
11 ARDILA ORDOÑEZ Andres Camilo COL UAE TEAM EMIRATES 02:42
12 FLOREZ LOPEZ Miguel Eduardo COL TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC 03:24
13 CARUSO Damiano ITA BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 03:56
14 BAYER Tobias AUT ALPECIN-FENIX 04:40
15 ADRIA OLIVERAS Roger ESP EQUIPO KERN PHARMA 04:4

Fabio Aru fights to a brilliant 2nd place finish overall at Vuelta a Burgos

Hugh Carthy (EF Education Nippo) won the final stage of the Vuelta a Burgos but it was Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) that won the race overall, with Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash) taking 2nd and Mark Padun (Bahrain-Victorious) finishing 3rd.
Team Qhubeka NextHash took to the start of the final Vuelta a Burgos stage without Domenico Pozzovivo and Sander Armee, this was after both riders crashed during yesterday’s stage. Armee is expected to make a rapid recovery from his injuries but Pozzovivo suffered a fracture of the knee.
It was heart-breaking to see Pozzovivo leave the race while in such excellent form and his Vuelta a Espana challenge now lost too, before it even began, but with Fabio Aru starting the final stage in 4th overall our South African team still had a lot to race for and our 4 remaining riders delivered in a big way.
The final 146km stage finished up the 12km climb to Lagunas de Neila, well-known for its brutal gradients over the last 3km to the line. An early break did animate the first part of the race, but it was always going to be caught on the climb and the stage & GC would be decided by the strongest climbers.

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, Bert-Jan Lindeman and Dylan Sunderland did a fine job looking after Fabio Aru right up until about the 7km to go marker for Team Qhubeka NextHash. Team Bahrain Victorious then set the pace coming into the hardest part of the climb, and this put the race leader, Romain Bardet (Team DSM) into difficulty.
Aru was riding strong in the wheels of Bahrain though, as the group quickly whittled down to just the top 20 climbers in the race. Padun was the first of the GC men to make a move, but Ineos Grenadiers gave chase with Egan Bernal and Pavel Sivakov.
Riders were aptly greeted with a „Welcome to Hell“ sign painted on the road as they began the final steep 3km stretch. From here it was very much, every man for himself. There were numerous attacks and surges in pace, but Aru rode an intelligent final climb with a top GC placing his goal. Always in the top 10 positions on the road, Aru fought all the way to the line, taking 8th place on the stage just 38 seconds after Carthy had won.
Aru’s brilliant performance ensured he climbed up to 2nd place overall, behind race winner Landa. A great result for Aru and also Team Qhubeka NextHash after a difficult last 24 hours for the team.

Fabio Aru
I am really sorry about the crashes over the last few days in our team. On the 2nd day Emil (Vinjebo) crashed and broke his collarbone, now he will miss the Vuelta. Yesterday also, Pozzo (Domenico Pozzovivo), he broke his knee, this is really terrible for us. Sander Armee also went home but we hope he can recover soon and Reinie (Janse van Rensburg) also crashed yesterday, so this has been very bad for our team.
But today we still had four guys in the race, and I have to say thank you to Bert-Jan (Lindeman), Reinie and Dylan (Sunderland). They really helped me a lot all day and to arrive in the climb in the first positions. Even though Reinie crashed yesterday he was still so strong today. So, in the end I am really happy about the result we could achieve.
When we made the decision to skip the Tour de France, and changed my calendar, I went to Lugano and Sibiu Tour and I was able to find a good feeling on the bike again. I could start attacking again, I could race the race, and I was able to fight in the race. I missed this feeling so much in the last three years and this was really hard for me.
So, these last few results, also with 2nd in GC at Vuelta a Burgos against very good riders, this gives me a very good feeling and I am so happy about it. Now I will have some easy days with the family and be ready for the next goals.

Vuelta a Burgos – Etappe 3

Ergebnisse, Etappenrennen, , , ,

Busto de Bureba – Espinosa de los Monteros – 173 Km


Photo by Plomi

1 BARDET Romain FRA TEAM DSM 04:14:14
2 POZZOVIVO Domenico ITA TEAM QHUBEKA ASSOS 00:39
3 LANDA MEANA Mikel ESP BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:39
4 NIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel ESP TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE 00:39
5 BAYER Tobias AUT ALPECIN-FENIX 00:50
6 PADUN Mark UKR BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:50
7 ARU Fabio ITA TEAM QHUBEKA ASSOS 00:50
8 VLASOV Aleksandr RUS ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 00:50
9 DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO David ESP UAE TEAM EMIRATES 00:50
10 RODRIGUEZ GARAICOECHEA O ESP ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 00:50

Gesamt:
1 BARDET Romain FRA TEAM DSM 11:44:38
2 LANDA MEANA Mikel ESP BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:45
3 POZZOVIVO Domenico ITA TEAM QHUBEKA ASSOS 00:58
4 ARU Fabio ITA TEAM QHUBEKA ASSOS 01:00
5 DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO Davi ESP UAE TEAM EMIRATES 01:00
6 BOUCHARD Geoffrey FRA AG2R CITROEN TEAM 01:00
7 PADUN Mark UKR BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 01:05
8 SIVAKOV Pavel RUS INEOS GRENADIERS 01:07
9 BUITRAGO SANCHEZ Santiago COL BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 01:33
10 HÄNNINEN Jaakko FIN AG2R CITROEN TEAM 01:45
11 ZWIEHOFF Ben GER BORA – HANSGROHE 01:45
12 RUBIO REYES Einer Augusto COL MOVISTAR TEAM WOMEN 01:54
13 REICHENBACH Sebastien SUI GROUPAMA – FDJ 01:54
14 ARDILA ORDONEZ Andres Cam COL UAE TEAM EMIRATES 02:00
15 BAYER Tobias AUT ALPECIN-FENIX 02:11

Pozzovivo takes 2nd on Burgos stage 3 – Aru also impresses as Italian duo climb up the GC

Romain Bardet (Team DSM) won stage 3 of the Vuelta a Burgos, crossing the line solo, with Domenico Pozzovivo (Team Qhubeka NextHash) leading the chase group home and taking 2nd, Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) was 3rd.

Stage 3 of the Vuelta a Burgos presented the first real test to the GC contenders as riders had to take on the well-known Picon Blanco climb. The complete stage covered 173km, with Picon Blanco peaking at just 18km to go, followed by a technical descent to the line.
An early break did go clear in the opening kilometers of the stage, but the peloton had no problem controlling the gap, ensuring the escapees would be caught on the climb.

Ineos-Grenadiers and EF-Education took up the pace setting on the lower slopes of the climb, but it was an acceleration from Fabio Aru that really put the pressure on, resulting in the main group thinning out. Giro d’Italia winner, Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) then tried to control the pace for their protected rider, Pavel Sivakov, but new attacks soon followed.
Aru and Pozzovivo rode well in tandem, following the moves until just 11 riders remained in contention at 3km to go from the summit of the climb. It became quite tactical over the final uphill kilometers but it was Bardet who put in a telling attack just before the summit and got a 15″ gap.
Pozzovivo formed part of the first chase group with three other riders, Landa (Bahrain-Victorious), Nieve (Bike-Exchange) and Bouchard (AG2R Citroen), as the descent began. Aru followed a few seconds behind in the 2nd chase group.
Bardet went downhill like a rocket and extended his lead to 35″ over the Pozzovivo chase group. There was a big scare for Pozzovivo though as Bouchard crashed in front of him in one of the many corners, but our Italian managed to stay upright and resumed the chase.
Bardet also slid out right near the bottom of the descent but hardly lost any time with an impressive and rapid remount. The Frenchman held his gap to the line, taking a very good stage win. Pozzovivo led the now 3-rider chase group home, to take 2nd place on the stage.
Aru would finish in the next group of chasers, just 11″ behind the Pozzovivo group, and sprinted to 7th place on the stage. The strong rides from our Italian duo saw Pozzovivo climb to 3rd place on the overall GC with Aru moving up to 4th.

Domenico Pozzovivo
„Today was a stage that suited me better than the first two windy stages. On the last climb we did some great work, together with Fabio, it was just Bardet that got a jump on Landa and me at the top and we know that he is very strong on the downhill. I tried to avoid taking too many risks on the downhill. Me, Landa and Nieve tried to come back on Bardet but he was very strong, even on the flat sections. Finally, I was happy to come in 2nd with a good sprint because that is not my best skill. We look forward now with confidence in our shape for the final mountain stage and also to the Vuelta a Espana.“

Circuito de Getxo – Memorial Hermanos Otxoa

Eintagsrennen, Ergebnisse, Teamnews, , , ,

194km

1 NIZZOLO Giacomo ITA TEAM QHUBEKA NEXTHASH 04:12:24
2 ALEOTTI Giovanni ITA BORA – HANSGROHE 00:00
3 BUITRAGO Santiago COL BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:00
4 GONZALEZ Abner PUR MOVISTAR TEAM 00:12
5 SCHELLING Ide NED BORA – HANSGROHE 00:12
6 CICCONE Giulio ITA TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:12
7 COVI Alessandro ITA UAE TEAM EMIRATES 00:54
8 SANCHEZ Luis L. ESP ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 01:04
9 TRENTIN Matteo ITA UAE TEAM EMIRATES 01:04
10 SOTO Antonio J. ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 01:26
11 BARBERO Carlos ESP TEAM QHUBEKA NEXTHASH 02:50
12 HERRADA Jose ESP COFIDIS 02:54
13 ALBANESE Vincenzo ITA EOLO-KOMETA CYCLING TEAM 02:56
14 LOPEZ Juan P. ESP TREK – SEGAFREDO 03:05
15 HOLLMANN Juri GER MOVISTAR TEAM 03:07

Dank starker Teamleistung Platz 2 und 5 für Aleotti und Schelling beim Circuito de Getxo

Einen Tag nach der Classica San Sebastian stand mit dem Circuito de Getxo für BORA-hansgrohe ein weiteres Eintagesrennen auf dem Programm. Der hügelige Parcours rund um Bilbao führte die Fahrer über 193,5 Kilometer mit mehreren kurzen, aber steilen Anstiegen und etwa 2500 Höhenmeter. Nach einem schnellen Start waren es Cesare Benedetti und Patrick Gamper, die sich mit einer Ausreißergruppe von 14 Fahrern davonmachten. 50 Kilometer vor dem Ziel griff Wilco Kelderman aus dem Peloton heraus an und teilte die Hauptgruppe. Fast das gesamte Team war in der ersten Verfolgergruppe vertreten, so dass die BORA-hansgrohe Fahrer das Rennen übernahmen und die verbleibenden vier Führenden einholten. Dank perfekter Teamarbeit waren nach dem letzten und entscheidenden Anstieg waren Giovanni Aleotti und später auch Ide Schelling in die Spitzengruppe von fünf Fahrern vertreten und kämpften somit um den Tagessieg. Ide griff zuerst alleine an, konnte aber die anderen Fahrer nicht wirklich loswerden, also gab er alles, um Giovanni in den letzten Anstieg zur Ziellinie zu führen. Mit perfektem Teamwork und einem starken Sprint wurde Aleotti nur von Giacomo Nizzolo geschlagen und belegte einen zweiten Platz, während Schelling Fünfter wurde und somit auch den Sieg in der Teamwertung für BORA-hansgrohe sicherte.
„Wir sind heute ein ziemlich gutes Rennen gefahren, da wir die ganze Zeit zusammengearbeitet haben und das Team einen nahezu perfekten Job gemacht hat. Bei 50 Kilometer vor Schluss konnten wir die Fluchtgruppe einfangen, das Feld spliten und mit vollem Tempo in den letzten Anstieg fahren. Hier hat das Team Ide und mich perfekt unterstützt und uns bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt beschützt, damit wir viel Energie für das Finale sparen konnten. Auf den letzten Kilometern konnten wir beide uns die Arbeit teilen und es zu einem harten Rennen für die anderen Fahrer machen. Als Ide wieder gestellt wurde, hat er alles gegeben, um mich in den letzten Anstieg zu führen. Leider war Nizzolo einfach zu stark, aber ich bin mit meinem zweiten Platz trotzdem sehr zufrieden und ich bin sehr dankbar für die Unterstützung des gesamten Teams.“ – Giovanni Aleotti

„Unser Ziel war es das Rennen heute zu bestimmen und schwer zu machen, um gerade die Sprinter und endschnelleren Fahrer nicht bis ins Finale mitzunehmen. Das Team hat von Anfang an einen super Job gemacht und wir hatten gleich zu Beginn mit Patrick und Cesare zwei Fahrer in der Spitzengruppe. Patrick wurde dann aber nach kurzer Zeit von einem Defekt wieder zurück geworfen, wodurch wir natürlich etwas weniger Optionen fürs Finale hatten. Dennoch hat das Team auf den letzten 50 Kilometern perfekt zusammengearbeitet und dem Rennen seinen Stempel aufgedrückt. Mit Ide und Giovanni haben wir dann auch auf den letzten Kilometern alles gegeben und versucht. Wir haben keine Fehler gemacht und wenn einer einfach besser ist kann man nichts machen. Daher sind wir sehr zufrieden mit unserem Teamwork und den starken Platzierungen unserer Fahrer.“ – Andre Schulze, Sportlicher Leiter

Giacomo Nizzolo powers to victory at Circuito Gexto for Team Qhubeka NextHash

Giacomo Nizzolo won the Circuito de Gexto – Memorial Hermanos Otxoa, sprinting to the victory from a small breakaway group. Giovanni Aleotti (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished 2nd and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) was 3rd.
The UCI 1.1 Circuito de Gexto saw riders take on 6 laps of an undulating circuit between Bilbao and Gexto, before completing a larger finishing circuit that included the the tough final climb of Pike Bidea, for a total race distance of 194km.
Team Qhubeka NextHash had last year’s second place finisher, Giacomo Nizzolo, targeting the top step of the podium today and so our South African UCI World Tour team rallied around the European champion throughout the race.
The race got off to a very fast start with numerous attacks and the pace was so high that it took almost 90km before any break finally got a significant gap. 11 strong riders had gone off the front and so Team Qhubeka NextHash, together with Caja-Rural and Bora-Hansgrohe took up the chase.
With around 55km to go, the pressure was on to bring the leaders back and as a result, there was a split at the head of the peloton as 12 riders went off in pursuit of the early leaders. Team Qhubeka NextHash had both Nizzolo and Carlos Barbero in this select chase group.

Barbero would go on to play a pivotal support role for Nizzolo, all the way up to the final climb of Pike Bidea at 15km to go, as he worked hard to ensure the breakaway was caught before the climb.
On the climb it was then up to Nizzolo to try and follow the climbers as they began attacking on the steep slopes. The Italian sprinter held his own and did a fantastic climb, to summit in 5th place, just 15″ behind the front riders. He was then able to bridge across to the lead on the descent, setting up an exciting finale.
Bora-Hansgrohe had a numbers advantage in the group that was now reduced to just 7 riders. Nizzolo had to follow a stinging attack from Ide Schelling with 6km to go but was successful in doing so and this set up a sprint finish between Nizzolo, Buitrago and the teammates of Aleotti and Schelling.
Nizzolo was too strong in the final kick for the other 3 riders and with 150m to go, he powered away to take a fine victory for Team Qhubeka NextHash. Barbero also managed to come home in a respectable 11th place, making it a great day for the team all round.

Giacomo Nizzolo
I am super happy about today’s victory. Last year I came 2nd here so this year I really wanted to win. The race was super difficult to control because everyone wanted to attack. I had to attack as well and spent a lot of energy but in the end I still felt good so I am super happy. Thanks to all the team for the support today and also to all the fans here in Basque Country, they always have a lot of passion and are very special to me.

Dlamini fights to „honour“ brutal Tour de France stage despite missing time cut

Etappenrennen, Teamnews, Tour de France, , , ,

Tignes, 4 July 2021 – Ben O’Connor won stage 9 of the Tour de France, a brutally tough 144km mountain stage in the rain, through the Alps. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) held onto the overall race lead going into tomorrow’s rest day.
Stage 9 of the Tour de France was always going to be an incredibly tough stage as there was almost zero flat kilometers in the 144km stage, which had a summit finish to Tignes.
Minding the fact that the riders have already dealt with 8 consecutive days of tough racing, today was made that much more treacherous as the peloton had to deal with a torrential downpour, from start to finish.
For Team Qhubeka NextHash, and for many other teams, it was purely a day of survival. After the first major climb of the stage there was less than half the 170 rider remaining at the front of the race. A brief slowing by the yellow jersey group allowed most riders to come back and a break to go clear up the road.
Ben O’Connor, Nairo Quintana and Sergio Higuita proved to be the strongest for most of the day, until the two Colombians faded on the final climb and O’Connor soloed to a magnificent victory.
Back down the road, there were small groups of riders all over the Alps. The descents were just about as difficult as the climbs, as the cold rain made it difficult for riders to brake, some even stopping to change into dry clothing.
Unfortunately Nicholas Dlamini was a victim to one of the fast descents and crashed while riding in the grupetto. It was a long a lonely battle for Dlamini from that point, as the race rode away from the 25-year-old South African.
While the rest of the Team Qhubeka NextHash riders would finish within the time limit, Victor Campenaerts by only 7 seconds, Dlamini would not make the time cut.
The young South African crossed the line 1hr 24mins after O’Connor, to huge applause as onlookers admired the courage shown by Dlamini to not give up.
Nicholas Dlamini
It was a hard stage and there were some honest climbs; the nature of the stage and the weather didn’t make it easy. It was just a bad day to have a bad day. I was already unlucky to also crash and lost contact and after that I was on my own, so it was really difficult to just ride a good pace and get to the guys on my own.
I would have loved to finish the race but it is sad to finish this way but for me the most important thing was not to stop and ride until the finish regardless of being out of the time limit. It’s a special race and it’s always been a dream of mine to ride the Tour de France and I think just getting off my bike and into a car wouldn’t be an option.
I’m glad that I finished even though I finished an hour and half from the winning time – it was hard, bad day.
I’d really like to thank everyone for the great support, from when the Tour started up until this point. The support has been amazing and that was the reason that I wanted to really finish today and not get off my bike and into a car.
This is a race that I wanted to honour, and honour my dream. It was my first Tour de France and I knew it would be hard but I’ve honoured that dream; I am disappointed but at this point there’s not much I can do.

Team Qhubeka NextHash safely navigate crash-marred TdF opening stage

Teamnews, Tour de France, ,


Landerneau, 26 June 2021 – Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quickstep) raced to victory on stage 1 of the Tour de France, also claiming the first yellow leader’s jersey of the race.

The opening stage of the Tour de France, a 198km loop around Brittany, was a dramatic affair, but not always for the most positive of reasons.
Team Qhubeka NextHash were part of the early action as Victor Campenaerts and Max Walscheid were the first two riders to attack today. Campenaerts would summit the first category 4 climb of the race, in first place, but the peloton quickly brought back the UCI Hour Record holder.
A break of 6 riders eventually went clear but the peloton kept them close, as the punchy finale suited a number of the pre-race favourites. Drama then struck with 45km to go, as a fan got in the way of the peloton and caused a mass crash at the front of the race.
Fortunately, all Team Qhubeka NextHash riders got through the carnage to continue racing. As the break was caught and the peloton raced toward the finishing climb, another high speed mass-crash occurred with 7km to go. Once again, luck was on our side as all our riders managed to escape without serious injury.

The crashes had obviously shattered the peloton, leaving just 25 riders to contest for stage honours. The World Champion, Alaphilippe, took a brilliant win while Michael Gogl and Sergio Henao were the first riders home for Team Qhubeka NextHash, finishing in the 2nd group on the road.

Our remaining 6 riders, including Le Tour debutants Nicholas Dlamini, Sean Bennett, Carlos Barbero & Campenaerts all managed to finish the stage safely.
Team Qhubeka NextHash wishes a speedy recover to all those injured in today’s crashes.

Nicholas Dlamini
I think it was one of the first stages of a race that I’ve done in a while where there were so many big crashes but I think we can be happy that nobody really was too badly hurt, it could have been worse. The race was everything that we expected, first stage are always like that, with a lot of stress in the bunch.
It was really good to make my debut and the race started pretty fast. Victor was very good on the first climb but from there it didn’t really stop, it just carried on for another 15km or so before the race slowed down but you could still sense the tension in the peloton with everyone still nervous. And after the first big crash things got more tense as the speed increased in the final but also the roads didn’t get easier with the road furniture.
I think that we can really look forward to the next stage now and take it day by day.
I just want to again thank everyone for the incredible support that they’ve given to me and the team. It’s been incredible, and we will continue to strive to make everyone proud as we continue to change lives with bicycles.

Michael Gogl
It was a really hectic start as usual at the Grande Depart. In the final there was another really big crash and I came through alright but Sergio lost a few positions and wasn’t in the right position to contest.
You had to have the legs for that sort of final so I we’re not satisfied overall with the day but most importantly we’re relatively unscathed and so we look forward to the opportunities to come.