Rolf Aldag, who was appointed new MTN-Qhubeka/Dimension Data Performanc manager, has detailed his expectations for the future in an interview with Cycling Weekly. The team will not be built only around Mark Cavendish.
The signing of Cavendish is one of the biggest on the market. He will find some familiar faces in his new team with Mark Renshaw and Bernhard Eisel.
"It’s not a take over or a revolution," the German said. "What’s important is to respect the history they have. The history they do have is important with the Qhubeka cause. We want to maintain and make it more successful. Cavendish, [Team Manager] Brian Smith… everyone involved has a clear view on the situation. It’s not a one-man show and it never was, even at HTC where we had so many stars."
MTN Qhubeka was cycling's first African professional team in 2013. This July, it was the first pro African team to compete in the Tour de France. Steve Cummings won a stage in Mende and Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot became the first African to wear the polka-dot jersey.
"Doug Ryder [team principal] has managed a team that has constantly grown, raced the biggest races on wildcard invitations," Aldag added. "They deserve more than just to say that an era is ending and another one is starting with Cavendish onboard."
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