Daniel makes history for Africa in Tour as leader crashes out
AFRICA stood tall on the Tour de France podium yesterday as Daniel Teklehaimanot of MTN Qhubeka and Eritrea became the first African to wear the King of the Mountains (KOM) jersey at the grand boucle.
History was made. Indeed, history has been made on a regular basis by Doug Ryder’s MTN-Qhubeka team since they began their journey from Africa to Europe. They were the first African-registered Pro Continental team. They had the first black South African in a World Tour race. Now they stand at the biggest race of them all with a jersey that has graced the shoulders of giants.
“I’m really happy about what happened today,” said Teklehaimanot.
“I can’t believe it. That was my childhood dream to get the polka-dot jersey at the Tour de France. I was excited about having it just for one day. I followed the team plan we had this morning. I made it into a group of three riders in a break.” Teklehaimanot, Perrig Quémeneur (Europcar) and Kenneth van Bilsen (Cofidis) broke clear from the bunch after just five kilometres.
Teklehaimanot’s plan was simple: to win the three points on offer at the three King of the Mountains hot-spots along the way to Le Havre.
Having won the King of the Mountains jersey at the Criterium du Dauphine, the traditional precursor to the Tour, Teklehaimanot rode a canny race. He took the points on the Cote de Dieppe and the Cote de Pourville-sur-Mer, which meant he now had the same number of points as Joaquim Rodriguez ( Katusha), the holder of the polka-dot jersey, who had won with a strong surge on the stage three on Mur de Huy.
As the final KOM point approached, Teklehaimanot could be seen in animated conversation with his fellow escapees. He sprinted, the two followed but did not charge, perhaps aware in some small way that they would be a part of history. Teklehaimanot crossed the line, turned to the camera and celebrated. Africa rising, indeed.
“After I scored two points, I was nervous that I wouldn’t take one more, otherwise I would be left with nothing,” said Teklehaimanot. The three were caught 20km from the end, but MTN-Qhubeka’s day was not yet done. Their Norwegian champion, Edvald Boasson Hagen, took seventh in the final sprint, his third top 10 finish of the Tour and the fourth for the team.
Tony Martin limped across the line in the yellow jersey in Le Havre yesterday, after a crash that marked the end of his Tour de France.
The German time trial specialist became embroiled in a physical confrontation with another rider, resulting in a number of cyclists crashing on the final climb less than a kilometre from the finish.
Martin’s Etixx-Quick Step teammate, Zdenek Stybar, emerged from the carnage to win the 191.5 km stage.