Dlamini To Become First Black South African Rider On Tour De France
Muhammad Rameez Published June 18, 2021 | 07:58 PM
Nicholas Dlamini will become the first black South African to race the Tour de France when this race gets under way on June 26 after Qhubeka included the 25-year-old Cape Towner on their team roster Friday
Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jun, 2021 ) :Nicholas Dlamini will become the first black South African to race the Tour de France when this race gets under way on June 26 after Qhubeka included the 25-year-old Cape Towner on their team roster Friday.
Dlamini has come through the UCI's World Cycling Centre Africa at Potchefstroom to cut his teeth on the development team after joining up with Qhubeka at their Italian base at Lucca.
"Being selected to ride in my first Tour de France is an absolute dream come true for me," said Dlamini, who turned pro three years ago.
"It's always been an absolute childhood dream for me and now that I'm about to live it makes it feel surreal," the racer, who once had aspirations to be a runner, told the team website.
"I think it speaks to what the team is about, the Ubuntu spirit, and how we change people's lives because it is honestly a very special moment: to come from a small township and then to go to the Tour de France," said the man who has twice competed in La Vuelta and will also compete at the Olympics with Team South Africa.
"Considering where I come from it would simply have been impossible for me to have the opportunity to ride at the Tour de France if it wasn't for Team Qhubeka ASSOS," said Dlamini, who added he hoped he could be an inspiration to young South Africans.
Team principal Douglas Ryder saluted an "incredibly special" moment as the squad was unveiled to include Dlamini.
"His story is simply an incredible one and for him to have earned this opportunity shows that dreams really do come true, and for the team to have provided that opportunity makes me incredibly proud.
"His selection speaks to everything about what we've created and built with this team through providing hope, an opportunity and then ultimately the platform to be on the biggest stage of all, the Tour de France."The team will be making its seventh appearance at the Tour after a 2015 debut and to date boasts seven stage wins.
Qhubeka will field two other Tour debutants in American Sean Bennett, 25, and Belgian Victor Campenaerts. The line-up also includes former Vuelta champion Fabio Aru of Italy, Colombian Sergio Henao and Australian Simon Clarke.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From Sports
-
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
6 hours ago -
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
6 hours ago -
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
5 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
5 hours ago -
Bagnaia hits back with record Jerez practice lap
5 hours ago -
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
5 hours ago
-
Shahzaib Rind calls on Deputy Speaker Balochistan
7 hours ago -
Inter-university weightlifting championship kicks off at SAU
7 hours ago -
T20 World Cup 2024 Trophy unveiling ceremony held
7 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
8 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 table
9 hours ago -
New Zealand cricket CEO visits PSCA, expresses satisfaction over security arrangements
9 hours ago