Daniel Teklehaimanot has been named 2015 African Cyclist of the Year by the organisers of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo.
The Eritrean was voted the overall trophy winner by a panel of 20 team managers, riders, officials and cycling journalists, which was chaired by five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault.
Former winner Louis Meintjes of South Africa was the runner-up, with Tropicale Amissa Bongo winner Rafaa Chtioui of Tunisia third.
Teklehaimanot, who rides for Team MTN-Qhubeka (now Dimension Data), grabbed the judges’ attention with his victory in the best climber classement at the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Teklehaimanot, with fellow countryman Merhawi Kudus, was also the first black African to enter the Tour de France. At the Grande Bouclé, he was the first rider to go on the attack during the prologue in Utrecht and showed his climbing class when he wore the polka dot jersey for most of the first week.
