Criterium du Dauphine #1: Boasson Hagen "The Boss" of stage 1

The Criterium du Dauphine got underway with a short but challenging 142km stage between Aurilliac and Jussac. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka started on a positive note, as Julien Vermote made it into the 6-rider break of the day.

Despite the 5 categorised climbs spread across the route, the sprint teams remained interested in today's stage and kept the gap to the breakaway under control.

On the final climb of the stage, Deceuninck-Quickstep upped the pace and reduced the main group to just 60 riders, as the break splintered up the road. Boasson Hagen had to dig deep to stay with the group on the climb, but our Norwegian managed to do so as it peaked with just 18km to go.

Mitchelton-Scott then took up the chase and ensured the final 3 remaining breakaway riders were caught in the final kilometer. Boasson Hagen was able to benefit from the chase work of the other teams and found the strength to beat them all in the final sprint for the stage victory.

The stage win also secured the overall race leader’s yellow jersey as well as the green jersey, as the leader in the points competition for Boasson Hagen.



"I am really happy with today's win. It has been a while since I have won in the World Tour, so this is great win for me and for Team Dimension Data. I was really suffering on the climb, but I managed to stay there in the group while the best sprinters were dropped. That worked out really well for me. I had good speed in the sprint and am just really happy to have won and to take the yellow jersey, even if only for a few days." - Edvald Boasson Hagen

Team Dimension Data For Qhubeka

Founded in 2007, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka became the first ever African cycling team to gain a WorldTour license, in 2016. The team has bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. It’s also known as Africa’s Team due to its focus on helping African talents to the world stage of cycling. 

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka races for something bigger than wins. Through our relationship with Qhubeka, a global charity operating in South Africa, we raise awareness for #BicyclesChangeLives.

Qhubeka gives people a helping hand up by providing them with bicycles through its learn-to-earn and work-to-earn programmes. That’s what the hand on our team race jersey stands for. It’s a reminder that every Qhubeka bicycle is a helping hand to a Qhubeka beneficiary.

By supporting #BicyclesChangeLives you can help children to access education and help support skills development and job creation in South Africa.

Qhubeka

Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles.  People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.

A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 

Dimension Data 

Dimension Data (dimensiondata.com) uses the power of technology to help organisations achieve great things in the digital era. As a member of the NTT Group, we accelerate our clients’ ambitions through digital infrastructure, hybrid cloud, workspaces for tomorrow, and cybersecurity. With a turnover of USD 7.5 billion, offices in 57 countries, and 28,000 employees, we deliver wherever our clients are, at every stage of their technology journey. We’re proud to be the Official Technology Partner of Amaury Sport Organisation, organiser of the Tour de France, and the title partner of the cycling team, Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka.

Learn more about the team at www.africasteam.com. 

All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit (Getty Sport Images) in combination to this release.