African Team to Race in Tour de France

Jakarta Globe – AFP, Jan 14, 2015

South African Jay Thompson of team MTN-Qhubeka during the Cycling
Tour of Portugal. (EPA Photo/Jose Sena Goulao)

Paris. An African team will take part for the first time in the Tour de France when it starts in Utrecht next July, organizers announced Wednesday.

The team will be the MTN-Qhubeka outfit from South Africa.

In all 22 teams, each with nine cyclists, will compete in the 102nd edition of on of the most grueling events in world sport.

“Their participation in the tour will help accelerate the progression of African cycling,” said the tour’s director Christian Prudhomme.

One of five wildcard teams chosen to race in next year’s tour, MTN-Qhubeka already has experience of top level international cycling having competed in last year’s Tour of Spain.

It has several promising young African cyclists in their lineup and recently reinforced their ranks by signing up Norwegian sprinter Edvald Boasson Hagen, one of the top names in the successful Sky team.

Another sprinter in the ranks is the 2011 Milan-SanRemo winner Matt Goss of Australia while others to join the team are Dutchman Theo Bos and American Tyler Farrar.

“The opening up to the world (of the tour) continues,” Prudhomme said, pointing out that one of the favorite’s for next year’s race will be Nairo Quintana of Colombia.