Dimension Data have announced the team for their third Tour de France, which starts in Düsseldorf, Germany, on July 1.
South Africa’s Reinardt Janse van Rensburg has made the cut for his third appearance at the Tour, while Mark Cavendish will continue his comeback from the Epstein-Barr Virus. Jaco Venter and Scott Thwaites will make their debut appearances.
Reinardt Janse van Rensburg has made the Dimension Data team selection for the Tour de France. Photo: Stiehl Photography
“Despite this setback and my lack of race time I’ve worked incredibly hard both to ensure I could firstly recover from the illness as well as then aiming to build my fitness up as much as possible in order to start the Tour,” said Cavendish.
“If I am being totally honest, had this not been the Tour de France we may have collectively taken a different approach with regards to my inclusion but I feel that I owe it to myself, the team, our sponsors and most importantly to the Tour itself given its history and everything that it stands for – as well as the emotional attachment I have for it – to give it my best and to put everything I have in to trying to help the team.”
Team manager Douglas Ryder said the team’s apprearance at the Tour was a special accomplishment.
“This team was built on a dream and to be in our third Tour de France is so special,” he said.
“Our two debutantes, Jaco and Scott, will have their eyes wide open as they experience the enormousness of The Tour de France and it will be a privilege to do that with the incredible experience of the rest of the team.”
Ryder said the hard work put in by the team showed just how dedicated they were to the sport and he hoped their influence would have a positive impact on others.
The team will target specific stages with individual riders riding from the front, searching for breakaways and looking to wear a leaders jersey during the 2017 edition of the race.
The team includes:
Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
Jaco Venter
Serge Pauwels
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Mark Cavendish
Steve Cummings
Scott Thwaites
Bernhard Eisel
Mark Renshaw
