Team Dimension Data have signed deals with four African riders to represent the team beyond 2016.
The riders are South Africans Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Nic Dougall, along with Eritreans Natnael Berhane and Merhawi Kudus.
South Africans Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Nic Dougall, along with Eritreans Natnael Berhane and Merhawi Kudus, have signed for Team Dimension Data. Photo: Supplied
After returning to the team last year, Janse van Rensburg confirmed his talent by winning the overall title in the Tour de Langkawi in March.
The 27-year-old was also a key member of their Tour de France squads in the last two years.
Dougall underlined his talent in the first part of the season and is happy to be “riding for an African team”.
“It means a lot to me as we do not only help to raise the bar for African cycling but also help to put people on bikes through Qhubeka,” said Dougall.
The 22-year-old Kudus has already shown glimpses of his talent during the first week of La Vuelta in Spain in the fourth Grand Tour of his career.
“I would like to win a stage at a Grand Tour in the future. I feel that these are the races that suit me well and it’s great to be able to develop myself as a rider in an African team,” said Kudus.
Berhane could also take things to a whole new level for African cycling.
The former Eritrean champion was the first African to win a stage race in Europe in 2013 – on the Presidential Tour of Turkey – and has steadily progressed.
Team principal Douglas Ryder said they had built this team to showcase and support the best talent on the African continent.
“I am really happy to see the commitment, dedication and loyalty these riders have shown in their future development with Team Dimension Data and also in the team’s purpose of mobilising people on bikes.”
