Ouest-France (AFP) / Cycling. Daniel Teklehaimanot joins Cofidis
Posted by: Semere Asmelash
Date: Friday, 02 February 2018
COFIDIS SOLUTIONS CREDITS
Cycling. Daniel Teklehaimanot joins Cofidis
Eritrean runner Daniel Teklehaimanot joins the Cofidis cycling team. | WEST FRANCE
Modifié le 02/02/2018 18h21
Publié le 02/02/2018 18h21
Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot, the first runner-up in sub-Saharan Africa to wear the polka-dot jersey for best climber in the Tour de France, has joined the Cofidis cycling team for the season. "We were interested in his profile to go on the breakaways when the road rises and also help our Spanish leader Jesus Herrada," said team manager Cofidis Cédric Vasseur.
The Eritrean rider Daniel Teklehaimanot, flag-bearer of African cycling who was left on the sidelines by Dimension Data team, was recruited Friday by the French formation Cofidis. First runner of color in sub-Saharan Africa to have worn the polka-dot jersey of the best climber of the Tour de France (in 2015), Teklehaimanot was engaged for the season that starts. "He is a WorldTour rider" , told AFP Cédric Vasseur, manager of the French formation. "Daniel is a climber, who has twice won the Dauphiné mountain rankings, a born striker, but also an experienced rider (29 years old)" .
The Eritrean climber will make his debut with French training next week at the Dubai Tour.
"The opportunity arose, he added, and we were interested in his profile to get off the break when the road rises and also help our Spanish leader Jesus Herrada . "Teklehaimanot, who started at the highest level in 2012 (Orica) before joining the team that was to become Dimension Data in 2014, was warned late in October that his contract would not be renewed. He could not find a job because of a lack of space in a context of downsizing.
Cofidis took his group to 26 riders. "We have a rich program and are present several times on three fronts," said his manager about his latest recruitment. "I think it's a win-win deal as Daniel fits into our new race philosophy, to be in a more aggressive dynamic . "
The former African champion (2010) is expected to start in his new colors next week at the Dubai Tour, alongside Nacer Bouhanni and replacing Geoffrey Soupe (angina).
Un nouveau coureur rejoint notre équipe aujourd'hui ! Bienvenue au grimpeur Erythréen @DanielTeklehai1 !! Il devrait débuter sur le @dubaitour dès le 6 février prochain, en remplacement de @GeoffSoupe, souffrant. #Cofidismyteam
Cofidis announced the recruitment of Daniel Teklehaimanot.
Daniel Teklehaimanot wore the polka dot jersey in 2015. (B.Papon / L'Equipe)
Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot has been involved with the Cofidis team for one year. Left free by the leaders of the South African team Dimension Data who had warned him only at the end of last October of the non-renewal of his contract, the former best climber of the Dauphiné and wearing the jersey polka dot the 2015 Tour de France was looking for a new team.
"I'm so happy to have been able to convince a manager like Cédric Vasseur ," Eritrean said from his Italian home when he was in Europe. I trained as if I was going to race the next day, I'm motivated for this new adventure in a strong team that has great ambitions. "He will replace numerically in the workforce of Cofidis Geoffrey Soup sick according to the release of the North team. Daniel
Il devrait débuter sur le @dubaitour dès le 6 février prochain, en remplacement de @GeoffSoupe, souffrant. #Cofidismyteam
