Dlamini to make history at Tour de France

Team Qhubeka ASSOS, Africa’s UCI WorldTour team, will make its seventh appearance at the Tour de France having first competed in 2015 (MTN-Qhubeka). Over that period the team has won seven stages; and worn the yellow, green and polka dot jerseys respectively.

Dlamini’s selection is a landmark moment for the South African-registered team as he becomes the latest rider to progress from our development team and onto the UCI WorldTour, and subsequently earn his selection to compete at the world’s biggest cycling race.

The 25-year-old, who grew up in an informal settlement in Cape Town, first caught the eye as a runner before moving into cycling where his talents saw him move to the UCI’s World Cycling Centre Africa in Potchefstroom, South Africa. It is from here that he first earned a spot in our UCI Continental outfit – Team Qhubeka - based in Lucca, Italy.

In his second season with the continental team, Dlamini rode as a stagiaire on our WorldTour team and then turned professional in 2018. Since then he raced across the world, including twice competing at the Vuelta a Espana (2019 and 2020) and has worn the king of the mountains jersey at both the Tour Down Under and the Tour of Britain.

2020 saw his season heavily affected by an arm injury, as well as the broader impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the cycling calendar, but 2021 has seen Dlamini selected to represent Team South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and now being called up to our Tour de France squad.

Dlamini’s style of racing will likely see his talents deployed in the offensive strategy the team will look to pursue during the race, while also playing a key supporting role in the flatter stages.

Riding in the most prestigious road race on the planet is the pinnacle of Dlamini's career.

"Being selected to ride in my first Tour de France is an absolute dream come true for me," he said. "It’s always been an absolute childhood dream for me and now that I’m about to live it makes it feel surreal.

"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. The platform that they’ve provided me, and other riders from Africa, to compete at the highest level in cycling has been critical."

Team Qhubeka ASSOS Team Principle Doug Ryder believes that the side have got the correct mix together going into this years edition of the grand tour.

"Selection for a Tour de France team is always very difficult, and what we’ve seen again this year is riders across our squad put their hand up for selection," Ryder said. "Our final roster is one that I know will do our team, partners and supporters proud in the true spirit of Ubuntu.

"Riding your first ever Tour is such a special moment and I couldn’t be more delighted for Nic, Sean and Victor. We have huge amounts of experience in Fabio, Michael, Simon and Sergio while Max – together with Victor - shone at the Giro and will be looking to carry that confidence into this race.

"For Nic, what a moment though; 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."

2021 Tour de France line-up [squad numbers]:
• Simon Clarke – Australia [09]
• Michael Gogl – Austria [07]
• Victor Campenaerts – Belgium [55]
• Max Walscheid – Germany [13]
• Sean Bennett – USA [31]
• Nic Dlamini – South Africa [17]
• Sergio Henao – Colombia [10]
• Fabio Aru – Italy [21]