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Eritrean rider Daniel Teklehaimanot becomes first African to wear Tour de France KOM jersey

by Matt de Neef LE HAVRE, France (CT) – There’s a real sense of excitement around the MTN-Qhubeka team at the 2015 Tour de France. The Pro Continental outfit is the first African-registered trade team to

by Matt de Neef

LE HAVRE, France (CT) – There’s a real sense of excitement around the MTN-Qhubeka team at the 2015 Tour de France. The Pro Continental outfit is the first African-registered trade team to race the Tour and, in its first outing in the race, MTN-Qhubeka is doing far more than simply making up the numbers.

On today’s sixth stage into Le Havre, one of the team’s two Eritreans, Daniel Teklehaimanot, got himself in the day’s breakaway with the express goal of landing the polka-dot jersey of the mountains classification leader. He managed exactly that, taking maximum points on the stage’s three, fourth-category climbs and overtaking stage 3 winner Joaquim Rodriguez in the KOM classification as a result.

In doing so, Teklehaimanot becomes the first African to wear the KOM jersey in the Tour de France and the first black African to wear a Tour de France classification jersey of any kind. In all, just three Africans have worn a leader’s jersey at the Tour de France: Robbie Hunter with the white jersey in 2001 and Daryl Impey with the yellow jersey in 2013.

“I’m really happy about what happened today. I can’t believe it,” Teklehaimanot said after the stage. “It is a big step for African cycling and I feel really proud at the moment because I have this jersey. That was my childhood dream to get the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France.”

“I followed exactly the team’s plan we had this morning; I made it in a group of three riders. After I scored two points, I was nervous that I wouldn’t take one more, otherwise I would be left with nothing.”

Despite being challenged by break-mate Perrig Quemeneur (Europcar), Teklehaimanot was able to score the necessary final point, securing the lead in the KOM classification. As team principal Doug Ryder told CyclingTips just before the end of the stage, Teklahaimanot has a particular affinity for the polka-dot jersey.

“Daniel actually said when he was wearing the jersey in the [Criterium du Dauphine] that it was the jersey that he always wanted to wear,” Ryder said. “The king of the mnountains jersey was a jersey that he felt was far more important than the yellow jersey because the yellow jersey’s all about biding your time and losing as little time as possible over a stage race.

“The king of the mountain jersey is all about showing aggression, being determined, taking chances. That’s our team; that’s African cycling.”

Back in June Teklehaimanot took control of the Criterium du Dauphine’s KOM classification on the opening stage and would hold it all the way to the end of the eight-stage race. It was the first jersey the team had won at a WorldTour race since its inception back in 2007.

Having the polka-dot jersey at the Tour de France takes things to the next level for MTN-Qhubeka, even if it is for one day so far.

“For him to wear it today … was a big objective of ours — to wear a leader’s jersey in the Tour de France, even for a couple days,” Ryder told CyclingTips just before the end of stage 6. “It’s going to motivate the team incredibly.

“Daniel’s going to go now and wear the leader’s jersey and stand on the podium at our first Tour de France. It’s incredible — this is honestly a dream come true race for us.”

Amazing celebrations in the team bus as Daniel Teklehaimanot secures the polka dot jersey at the Le Tour de France today!!!

Posted by Team MTN Qhubeka on Thursday, 9 July 2015

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19 COMMENTS
  • Aman July 9, 2015

    Congratulation Daniel and his team. Congratulation Daniles family and friends. Congratulation to all Eritreans. Confratulation to Africa.

    This is a victory for all Eritrens

  • rezen July 9, 2015

    What a Refreshing News.
    Congratualtion is in order to Daniel Teklehaimanot and through him an uplifting spirit to Eritreans; and Africa as a whole.

  • Mulue July 9, 2015

    I am very proud of you!!! It’s pride for us!!! Thankyou so much; God bless you!!! I wish you all the best!!!

  • fetsum abraham July 9, 2015

    what an athlete though i could not understand the details of his success in this stage and its relationship to what he acheived earlier zis month simply, fantastic

  • k.tewolde July 9, 2015

    beautifully executed! congrats young man.pride of Africa.pride of his ethnicity.

  • Eritreawit July 9, 2015

    Congratulaions!!!! Daniel Teklehaymanot. you make Africa shine and Eritrea proud.

  • Markos.G July 9, 2015

    Bravo bravo brother Dani the great, mama Eritrea needs a lot more young shining sportsmen/women, determined fighters and ambassadors like you to represent her to the outside world who have only been recently watching her sad and dark pictures. Keep up the great form and please also keep your feet on the ground and don’t let the PFDJies/higdefs to use and to exploit you my dear brother.

  • smerr495 July 10, 2015

    congratulation. proud of you. good luck!

  • senay July 10, 2015

    Congrats Daniel, haben nay hzbi Ertra.

  • Yohannes Tesfatsion July 10, 2015

    Tanti Auguri Daniel Teklehaimanot bravissimo

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