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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Thu Aug 04 2011 - 15:34:03 EDT
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/teklehaymanot-signs-for-greenedge
Teklehaymanot signs for GreenEdgeBy: Pierre Carrey Published: August 4,
16:17,
Eritrean talent is the first known transfer to the new Australian team
Multiple African champion Daniel Teklehaymanot has signed a two-year
contract with GreenEdge. The World Cycling Center (WCC), Switzerland, where
the Eritrean talent has ridden since 2009, has confirmed the transfer to *
Cyclingnews*.
Teklehaymanot, 23, is the first confirmed transfer to the new Australian
structure, which he hopes will join the WorldTour in its first year in the
professional peloton.
*Cyclingnews* understands that he met with GreenEdge's managers for the
first time in early June, when the Australians went to Switzerland for some
meetings with the UCI. Some other teams were interested in signing him, like
Quick Step, FDJ and, above all, AG2R-La Mondiale.
Teklehaymanot wore a pro team's jersey in 2010, as a stagiaire for
Cervélo-TestTeam, but never signed any contract afterwards.
Last winter, two squads had tried to recruit him, the American-based Team
Type 1 and a Chinese project which ultimately never got off the ground. The
WCC, however, advised Teklehaymanot to remain an amateur one more year.
Teklehaymanot showed himself in 2008 at the Tour de la Paix, in Ivory Coast,
finishing 5th overall ahead of riders such as Nicolas Roche. As WCC rider he
had good performances at the Under-23 Nations Cup, finishing 6th overall in
the Tour de l'Avenir (2009) and winning a stage of the Tour du Lac de
Saguenay, Canada (2010).
This year, Teklehaymanot has divided his time between Switzerland and
African competitions. Last November, he became African Continental Champion
in the team time-trial, individual time trial and road race, both at
Under-23 and senior level. Ten days later he triumphed at the hilly Tour of
Rwanda (2.2).
Well-known by the western media, which depicts him as an ambassador of
Sub-Saharan cycling and the first African rider who could potentially ride
the Tour de France for some time, Teklehaymanot is also a star in Eritrea,
and one of the most famous people in the East African country.
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