Over the weekend Africa’s first team to have ever participated in Tour De France broke an even high lense of history with Two Eritreans being the first ever black African participants.
Daniel Teklehaimanot(26) and Merhawi Kudus(21) two Eritrean nationals, broke history this past Saturday being part of the African Team MTN Qhubeka (meaning progress in isiZulu) – for breaking barriers into being the first black African cyclists to have ever participated in Tour de France.
Coming from Eritrea (arguably Africa’s professional cycling capital), Daniel and Merhawi have made their own strides in cycling, scoring first position in various cycling competitions including African Road Race Championships, The National Road Race Championships and Tour of Rwanda. Furthermore, Daniel is the best climber of this years Critérium du Dauphiné,and Mehawi completed the Vuelta (tour of Spain bicycle race) at only 20 years old.
Daniel Teklehaimanot, the best climber on this year’s and his countryman Merhawi Kudus, who completed the Vuelta at the age of 20 years.
Adding further glory to this achievement, Daniel was the first rider to get the 102nd Tour de France Started, rolling off at 14.00pm in Utrecht.
This years Tour de France will run from July 4th til Jully 26th – for us, this means that more victories are in promise for these two Eritreans hopefuls, and the rest of the MTN Qhubeka team.
SOURCE: MTN Qhubeka
