"We've taken the best talent we could find in Africa into our team and
I think the Eritrean riders could make a big impact on the Tour in
2015," Ryder predicted.
Climber Natnael Berhane, who won the Tour of Turkey in 2013, has
joined the group and will race alongside fellow Eritrean Daniel
Teklehaimanot.
Another Eritrean, 20-year-old Merhawi Kudus, is considered a promising
prospect, along with South Africa's Louis Meintjes, 22"
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/26549722/high-hopes-as-african-minnows-take-on-tour-de-france-elite/
High hopes as African minnows take on Tour de France elite
AFPMarch 7, 2015, 4:07 am
Johannesburg (AFP) - MTN-Qhubeka's ambitions are modest in their
maiden Tour de France but team manager Douglas Ryder predicts the
African outfit will be on the podium of the world's most famous
cycling race within five years.
The first African team to compete in the Tour de France which gets
underway in Utrecht in July, Ryder believes Africans can be as
successful in cycling as they are in world athletics.
"Stage wins are the big objective for us (this year) and to try and
wear a leader's jersey," said Ryder.
"We don't have a rider that can go for the overall classification, but
we are hoping that in two to three years we can have a rider that can
potentially stand on the podium.
"It has been a European sport for 100 years but why can't we get
African riders to break through and to make a big impact in world
cycling."
One of five wildcard teams chosen to race in this year's event,
MTN-Qhubeka already have experience of top level international cycling
having competed in last year's Vuelta a Espana.
They have several promising young African cyclists and reinforced
their ranks by signing Norwegian sprinter Edvald Boasson Hagen, one of
the top names in the successful Sky team.
But it is the home-grown African talent starting to emerge that is
striking at Qhubeka, whose name means progress in zulu.
"We've taken the best talent we could find in Africa into our team and
I think the Eritrean riders could make a big impact on the Tour in
2015," Ryder predicted.
Climber Natnael Berhane, who won the Tour of Turkey in 2013, has
joined the group and will race alongside fellow Eritrean Daniel
Teklehaimanot.
Another Eritrean, 20-year-old Merhawi Kudus, is considered a promising
prospect, along with South Africa's Louis Meintjes, 22.
"The first part we will focus on our European riders in a classic
style racing on the cobblestones in France and in northern Europe
too," explained Ryder.
"Our African riders are very good at climbing, they are very light,
very strong, so we'll focus the African riders on the second part and
the mountains."
MTN-Qhubeka are reaping the benefits of investment in Africa by
cycling's governing body UCI and Ryder believes the continent can
become a cycling power.
"What's happening in running will definitely happen in cycling. I
don't think so, I know so. But cycling is not that simple, it's more
technical, tactical, there's many things to learn."
- 'Experience you can't buy' -
Team leaders will be counting on the experience of the European riders
to construct a winning team.
"Will we ever be 100percent African, the answer is no," Ryder said.
"Because if you look at them, Boasson has been on two Tour de France
winning teams, that's experience you can't buy.
"You can only learn from people like that if we want to move forward
quickly. The European riders have a lot of value to add.
"They can really help teach the African riders the way it is to be
living in Europe and to race on those roads."
Former South African rider Jean-Pierre van Zyl believes that although
there is a symbolic aspect in allowing a young African team compete,
they can also make an impact.
"Surely it's marketing, but I also think that the riders in the Tour
de France will be competitive," said van Zyl.
"They've showed themselves that they were good in the Vuelta Espana so
I can't see it being a problem. I can't see it being bad for either."
Qhubeka's rise has been meteoric since being created in 2007. In 2013
they became the first professional African team when joining the
second division of cycling and being included on the Continental Tour.
"Their participation in the Tour will help accelerate the progression
of African cycling," the Tour's director Christian Prudhomme told AFP.
"The opening up to the world (of the Tour) continues."
Qhubeka will also take part in June's Criterium du Dauphine, which
alongside the Tour of Switzerland is one of the two main pre-Tour
warm-up events.
Received on Sun Mar 08 2015 - 11:15:06 EDT