Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka are all set to start this year's Giro d'Italia, which gets underway on 6 May in Apeldoorn, Holland. It will be the first time the African Team start the Italian Grand Tour, making it a significant moment for the team and for African cycling in general.

The team is proud that 5 of the African riders will start, including the South African national champion, Jaco Venter. He will get to show off the national jersey at the Giro d'Italia for the first time since 2012.

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka Giro d'Italia 2016 Squad
Merhawi Kudus (22 years - Eritrea) 
Kanstantsin Siutsou (33 years - Belarus) 
Igor Anton (33 years - Spain) 
Omar Fraile (25 years - Spain) 
Kristian Sbaragli (25 years -Italy) 
Jaco Venter (29 years - South Africa) 
Johann van Zyl (25 years - South Africa) 
Jay Thomson (30 years - South Africa) 
Songezo Jim (25 years - South Africa) 

Team Principal Douglas Ryder said:

"We did a big push to get into the Giro d’Italia in 2014 as our first Grand Tour as Africa’s cycling team and it was not to be, so to be standing on the start line in 2016 is massive for Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka. Starting in Holland to is incredible as we had a great Tour de France last year, when we started in Utrecht.

"We have selected an amazing team with 7 riders new to the Giro and 2 riders, Igor Anton and Kanstantsin Siutsou, who have 10 Giro’s between them with the latter one riding into the top 10 before and winning a stage. Both riders will play leading roles in this team in support both on and off the bike.

"To have 5 riders from Africa in this team racing their first Giro is a dream come true for us, as well as for our young Italian Kristian Sbaragli and Basque Omar Fraile. We hope to make an impact that matters."

Head of Performance Rolf Aldag added:

"We're extremely happy to celebrate our first appearance at the Giro d'Italia. Our riders are ready, we have an incredibly motivated group of people who are ready to leave their mark in one of the biggest races of the year. Starting a grand tour in Holland is always very special, because it is one of the moments where the tradition and the respect of the Dutch meet the history of more than 100 years of bike racing."

Jaco Venter said:

"The team has been based in Italy for a number of years and to be able to race the Giro d'Italia now, well it has always been a big goal for me and the team. It will also be my first grand tour wearing the South African champions jersey which is really special. Racing so close to my European base, it feels like it is a home race for me. We have a strong team for the Giro so we are hoping for some good results and some good weather."