Earlier today the Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) announced the 22 teams that will participate in the 2015 Tour de France. Along with the 17 World Tour teams, 5 wild card teams were announced with MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung receiving an invitation. MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung would like thank the ASO for the invitation and to congratulate the other 4 wild card recipients, Europcar, Cofidis, Bretagne-Seche Environnment and Bora-Argon 18.
To receive a wild card for the Tour de France is a dream come true for the entire MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung team, while it is also a historic moment for World and African cycling. In all the 101 previous editions of the Tour de France, this will be the first time an African registered team will take part in this, the biggest cycling race in the world. We are extremely proud to be able to represent South Africa and Africa on one of the biggest stages in world sport.
The journey to reach the Tour de France has been a 7 year adventure and it certainly would not have been possible without our fantastic partners, particularly MTN who have shared our vision from the beginning as well as Samsung who have been on board since 2013. The added support from all our other partners, new and old, have allowed the dream of putting an African team on the starting line of the Tour de France to become a reality. We are now able to expose the work of Qhubeka to the world and in doing so, we will be able to change more lives in Africa through bicycles.
The 2015 Grand Depart will take place on the 4th July, starting with a 14km time trial in Utrecht. The riders will tackle 21 stages, covering 3344km in total before the 2015 Le Tour finishes on the famous Champs Elysees on 26 July. The ASO also announced the 20 teams that will take part in the Critérium du Dauphiné and MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung are delighted to have been included in this event as well. The Critérium du Dauphiné is a World Tour event starting on the 7th of June which will be vital in our Tour de France preparation.
Douglas Ryder – Team Principal
Brian Smith – General Manager
Larry Annetts – MTN South Africa Chief Marketing Officer
Sarah Phaweni – Qhubeka Executive Director
Great news! Don't forget about:
Youcef Reguigui, Kristian Sbaragli, Andreas Stauff, Johann van Zyl and off cause Jaco Venter!