The UCI announced earlier today that the Afircan team MTN-Qhubeka, which will race as Team Dimension Data in 2016, has received a World Tour license for the 2016 season.
It’s recognition for the very successful 2015 season for the team. Amongst the victories they took were stages of the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, and overall in the Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali and the Tour of Britain.
This means that Ireland will now have a record five riders racing at World Tour level as multiple Irish champion Matt Brammeier will return with the team next season.
Brammeier also had a successful season with the team, having taken a stage win at the Ster ZLM Tour. However, he had a horrific crash at the Tour of Utah later in the season when he collided with a car and was diagnosed with injuries to his pelvis, ribs and lung.
The Irishman previously raced at World Tour level back in 2011 with HTC-Highroad and Omega Pharma-Quick Step in 2012. He now joins Nicolas Roche, Dan Martin, Philip Deignan and Ryan Mullen at the highest level in the sport.
Douglas Ryder – Team Principal
“This is incredible, I am so happy for this team, our partners and all the staff and riders that have worked so hard over the years to keep building this team to push beyond the boundaries and believe that anything is possible. To get this news on our training camp in Cape Town as we are bonding with our new team for the future is simply the best motivation to move forward into 2016.”
Brett Dawson – CEO Dimension Data
“As the title sponsor, we’re extremely proud to be part of the team’s iconic rise from one of the five wild cards teams to ride in this year’s Tour de France to World Tour status. We look forward to accelerating our journey together and continue to play a role in developing African riders into professional cyclists who will compete in some of the world’s greatest cycling events.”
