Tour de France #9: MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung finish team time trial with one eye on the mountains
Daniel Teklehaimanot takes Polka Dot jersey into rest day
Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung would finish in 20th place during today's stage 9 team time trial at the Tour de France. BMC Racing would be the winning team today as they beat Team Sky and Movistar into 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Our African team had hoped to do a strong ride today but were also realistic in coming up against team's more experienced and well-rehearsed in the team time trialling discipline. Edvald Boasson Hagen put in the lion's share of work over the final sectors of a tough course to bring our young African climbers across the line in 34'11" for the 28km course.
Our team's average speed of 49.1km/h would see us finish within 1'56" of the reigning team time trial world champions by the end of the stage. With no King of the Mountains points on offer during the team time trial, Daniel Teklehaimanot will keep his Polka Dot jersey going into tomorrow's rest day.
Jens Zemke - Head of Performance
We finished our team time trial and we didn't do a superb time but not too far away from the best. We did expect a bit more but we must also realise it was the first day this team rode together so it was not our main objective to go fast in the team time trial. We had a very good first week here in the Tour de France and we are also heading into the mountains now. This is the terrain for our African talents so we can live with our result today, we did our best and we now look forward to the next tough stages.
About MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung
Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung was founded in 2007, steadily working its way up from a regional team to now being a Continental Pro team with bases in South Africa and Italy. MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung’s goal is to give talented African riders a path into the pro peloton while raising funds for Qhubeka. In 2015, MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung are inviting you to help them mobilise 5,000 kids on bicycles. To contribute to the #BicyclesChangeLives Campaign, click here.
Qhubeka is an Nguni word that means “to progress”, “to move forward”. Qhubeka (qhubeka.org) is World Bicycle Relief's program in South Africa. World Bicycle Relief (worldbicyclerelief.org) is a global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education, health and economic opportunities by providing simple, sustainable transportation. Since World Bicycle Relief’s founding in 2005, it has delivered more than 220,000 specially designed, locally assembled bicycles to people in need. To contribute to the #BicyclesChangeLives Campaign, click here.
MTN (mtn.co.za) is a long-time supporter of Qhubeka and the team. Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting 219.2 million subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Learn more about the team at www.teammtnqhubeka.com.
Enjoy our fanzone at www.teammtnqhubeka.com/Fanzone.
