SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015 SPORTS Historic moment for Africa

UTRECHT: The sweltering conditions the mountains jersey at the recent would have been familiar to Daniel du Dauphine and will expect to Teklehaimanot as he rolled down the start be mixing it with the world’s best climbers ramp yesterday but not the wall of noise when the race reaches the Alps. that hit him seconds later. The MTN Qhubeka bus, emblazoned The first black African to ride the Tour de with #bicycleschangelives, was thronged France was given the honour of being the with people yesterday, with Ryder’s pride first of the 198 riders to set off in the clear as he explained his dream to the medieval Dutch city of Utrecht where media. crowds estimated at 700,000 gathered to Cheered on by fans waving Eritrean watch a 14-kilometre . flags, Teklehaimanot did not quite produce The 26-year-old is part of debut-making the ride he would have liked over the team MTN Qhubeka, the first African pro- 13.8km course-clocking 16 minutes 30 sec- outfit to line up in the world’s great- onds. est race. But along with Meintjes, fellow Eritrean “(The organisers) phoned me last night Merhawi Kudus, the youngest rider in the and said ‘do you want to kick off the race?’,” Tour at 21, and South African brothers team president and founder Doug Ryder Jacques and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, told Reuters as Teklehaimanot and his team the days ahead will provide many chances mates, including American Tyler Farrar, to showcase the African continent. Norway’s and South “It’s David v Goliath, why not?” Ryder African Louis Meintjes, sweated on the said. “But we are here on merit and not rollers as the minutes ticked down to the because we are an African team. “We want start of the first stage. to be aggressive, show off the team’s “Most teams don’t want to start first, but colours, show the potential of African when they said do you want to kick off the cyclists and, of course, our Bicycles Change Tour I was like ‘OK, we’d be honored’. “When Lives campaign.” That last part sums it up as I told Daniel he was starting he said ‘fantas- Qhubeka is a foundation that hands out tic’.” bicycles to young Africans. “If we can go Eritrea’s Teklehaimanot, one of 17 chil- back to (Tour organisers) ASO and say not dren, is not just making up the numbers in only were we successful but we put 5,000 UTRECHT: Stage winner ’s celebrates on the podium after winning the 13.8 km individual time-trial, the first stage of the a team backed by MTN, the South African students on bikes so they can live their 102nd edition of the cycling race. —AFP telecommunications company, and elec- dreams and realise their potential, then tronics giant Samsung. He won the king of that’s fantastic,” Ryder said. —Reuters Dennis wins opening stage Orica target stage UTRECHT: Australian Rohan Dennis set a new Contador and . couldn’t match Dennis’s pace over the second record for the highest average speed in a Tour de The first marker was set by 2010 Dutch time- half of the race. France timetrial as he won the opening stage of trial champion , the ninth rider to Italian Nibali caused a stir by beating the man wins not yellow the 2015 edition yesterday. start, who finished in 15min 11sec. he deposed as Tour winner, a seemingly out-of- The 25-year-old scorched around the 13.8km But less than half an hour later, that was bet- sorts Froome, by 7sec. Nibali finished 22nd in course in just 14min 56sec despite Utrecht being tered by Dennis, even though Van Emden’s time 15min 39sec while the other two members of UTRECHT: Australians Orica-GreenEdge have “As far as GC it’s not a goal and never has suffocated by a heat wave. “I’ve broken a dry of 7min 27sec at the 7.1km time check would the ‘fantastic four’ lost even more time than a very clear plan for the Tour de France and it been a goal. As I said before, it would be pret- spell of wins and what a way to do it,” said remain unbeaten all day. Froome, who was 39th. Spanish Giro d’Italia win- doesn’t involve trying to get their hands on ty unprofessional of us to put pressure on the Dennis. Dennis was only one second behind but fin- ner Contador was 15sec behind the Italian while the yellow jersey. Yates boys, who we see as GC talents, in their He was the only rider to break the 15min ished stronger to beat Van Emden’s time by Quintana lost 18sec. Last year, team leader first Tour de France that they’re hoping to fin- mark and set a new Tour record of 55.446kph on 15sec. History making Eritrean pair Daniel came into the race believing he had a great ish. average for a timetrial, beating the 21-year-old He had to wait for almost two hours before Teklehaimanot and Merhawi Kudus gave a chance of taking the yellow jersey on one of “They’ve shown throughout the year and mark set by Britain’s over a the true challengers to his time started to roll respectable account of themselves as the first the early stages but was caught up in a crash since joining the team that they’re very capa- course that was just over half the length. More over the line, but even then, no-one could ever black Africans to ride the Tour for their MTN involving on the first stage ble of achieving some great results against important for Dennis, though, will be his oppor- match the former holder. Qhubeka team, the first African outfit to ride the and forced out of the race. the best guys in the world, but that’s for stage tunity to wear the yellow jersey on Sunday’s sec- Home hope was a second Grand Boucle. With the first stage this time around being victories not GC.” ond stage over 166km from Utrecht to Zeeland. slower than Dennis at halfway but had lost eight Teklehaimanot finished 146th out of 198 rid- a timetrial, Gerrans said it would likely prove took the start line last year at “I left it all out there; I went off harder than seconds by the end. German was ers in a time of 16min 30sec with Kudus 175th in too difficult for the team to get their hands on just four days notice and lasted for two weeks what I thought I should have and I came back three seconds down at halfway and had lost 16min 47sec. Nibali’s Astana teammate Lars the leader’s jersey and as they have no before his team withdrew him on the second harder than what I thought I could,” said the BMC another two seconds before the finish. Boom was at the start line after his participation designs on overall victory, it will be stage rest day. rider. Dennis’s predecessor as World Hour record- had been in doubt on Friday night due to a low wins occupying their thoughts for three This year he is hoping to finish the race Dennis had said before the Tour began that holder Matthias Brandle of Austria could not cortisol level in an unofficial test conducted by weeks. and expects to have a chance of a stage win his whole season had been built around training trouble the Australian, finishing seventh at the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC). “As far as realistic goals, we’ve been pretty in the mountains, by which time he believes for this timetrial and that should he win, it would 23sec, while his successor, Britain’s , Although it does not constitute a doping viola- adamant we’re chasing stage wins and GC he’ll be so far out of contention that the over- be “the happiest day” of his “life as a cyclist”. was well off the pace at 36sec in 13th. tion, the MPCC advises it’s member teams-who (overall victory) is not even on our radar this all contenders will let him get away in a And he did so in style, beating three-time By now there were very few riders left expect- are aligned to the movement on a voluntary year,” said the 35-year-old Gerrans, a two-time break. “These first nine days it’s actually going world timetrial champion Tony Martin into sec- ed to push for the stage victory and even basis-to stand down the rider for eight days on stage winner who was in yellow for two days to be pretty easy to lose some time. I’m not ond by 5sec with four-time world champion Spartacus, Cancellara, a five-time winner of health grounds. Astana failed to gain permission in 2013. really suited to these flatlands over this part third at 6sec. opening stage timetrials or prologues at the from the International Cycling Union (UCI) to “I don’t think we’ll be looking too closely of the world,” he said. “It’s going to be pretty Amongst the overall contenders, reigning Tour, could not unseat Dennis. field a replacement so they opted to let Boom at that part of the classification each day. With hard to arrive after these stages in the same champion surprised his rivals by Like Dumoulin he was a second behind take to the start. The 29-year-old Dutchman fin- the line up we have here, we’re more suited time as these GC guys. Even if I wanted to go putting time into , Alberto Dennis at halfway but like everyone else he ished 23rd at 44sec.—AFP to going for stage victories at this point.” for the overall, I’d be out of the running Orica manager Matt White said he believes already. “I think that gives me a much better young British twins Simon and opportunity to go for stage wins, so I can save could one day have overall victory hopes but my legs until we get there. “I don’t think I’m at just 22 years of age, they are not yet ready ready (for an overall tilt), I haven’t even fin- for that responsibility. ished a yet. To be challenging for “The biggest thing for us is to leave an overall, it’s a long way to go yet. impact on the race, that would be our num- “Once we get to the finish in Paris and a ber one goal and as Simon says: stage wins. few years down line, I can start talking about One stage would be pleasing, multiple stage that. “But mentally and physically I’m not wins even more so,” said White. ready.” —AFP Pedal power rules the roads UTRECHT: Rush hour has a distinctive sound- university, public transport, shops or home track in Utrecht. Not the cacophony of growl- via the city centre. Nearly half of all journeys ing engines and tooting car horns common in under 7 km are undertaken by bike. If you are most sizeable European cities, instead the on foot watch out, because it can be tricky ting-ting of hundreds of bells and the gentle finding a gap in the never-ending public whirring of chains. peloton, featuring all manner of bicycles but Two wheels rather than four rule the roads typically the heavy-framed roadsters built for in this pleasant Dutch city that claims to have comfort rather than speed. 900,000 bicycles-that’s about three for every one of its inhabitants. PARKING SPACE No wonder organisers of the Tour de Utrecht’s cycle heritage is deeply France felt they were in safe hands when they ingrained. The Dutch Cycle Union was found- selected Utrecht for Saturday’s Grand Depart ed there in 1883 and two years later, the of the 102nd edition of the famous race. world’s first bicycle path appeared. That was Here, you imagine, babies enter the world gravel and was open only on Sundays. turning pedals. Utrecht, Holland’s fourth- Nowadays, smooth red asphalt lanes criss- largest city, is proud of it’s high-tech indus- cross the city, with purpose-built round- tries, it claims to be the birthplace of Wi-Fi abouts, bridges, underpasses and traffic lights and is at the cutting edge of 3D printing and which inhabitants cycle around quietly and UTRECHT: People ride a boat in a canal during the first stage of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France cycling race, during a13.8 km individual the gaming industry. efficiently. Next year, the world’s biggest bicy- time-trial. —AFP But it is the failsafe mechanics of pedals cle park, with a capacity for 12,500 bikes, will and wheels for human propulsion that has open at Utrecht railway station- increasing pride of place in the city’s psyche. the city’s parking capacity to 33,000. “Amsterdam is more famous for it, they have A brand new “P-route bicycle” system-a Astana controversy mars Tour de France more bikes, but Utrecht has more bikes per series of digital signposts directing riders to person,” Edwin van den Berg, who leads bicy- the nearest available free parking spaces-is UTRECHT: A doping-related scandal involving the Boom, 29, was expected to play an important our rules,” Cookson told AFP. cle tours around the city’s Medieval canals already up and running. tainted Astana team of Tour de France champion role for Nibali during the first nine days. He won “It’s not included in the Wada rules so I can say and cobbled street, told Reuters on the eve of Accidents are relatively rare, too. Cycle Vincenzo Nibali marred the start of the Grand the cobbled fifth stage on last year’s Tour and was is free to start the Tour de France under the Grand Depart. lanes separate and where they do intersect Boucle in Utrecht on Saturday. expected to be Nibali’s chief lieutenant during this UCI rules, he hasn’t broken any rules.” “It’s much better to move by bike than by with roads, car drivers know the rules... bikes Late Friday night, news emerged that Astana’s year’s similar fourth stage. As for yesterday’s opening stage, three-time car. These old cities were never constructed have the right of way. Dutch rider Lars Boom had returned a low level of He’s also a powerful ‘rouleur’ whose job it world timetrial champion Tony Martin from for car traffic. “Since the 1920s, cycling grew To an outsider without a Utrecht native’s cortisol in an unofficial test conducted by the would have been to protect Nibali on fast flat Germany is expected to battle home hope Tom very fast. It went from being for adventurers, sixth sense for cycling, however, it can be Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) earlier this stages like today’s second one from Utrecht to Dumoulin. for the rich, to becoming a way of life. The daunting. “We cycle like maniacs,” Ank week. Zeeland where there is a risk of strong cross winds, “Everybody’s speaking about me and Tom but I flatness helps maybe, too.” Hendriks, who works in the marketing depart- Under MPCC rules, which are not binding, while he is also a key element for the stage nine already said a few times there are a lot more riders Every day, 100,000 ride to work, school, ment of the city council, said.—Reuters Astana are obliged to stand down Boom for a peri- team timetrial. to look at,” said Martin, who rides for the Etixx- od of eight days. Boom’s reading is not a doping However, if he lines up for Saturday’s 13.8km Quick Step team. violation-a high level of cortisol would be-but the individual timetrial around Utrecht at 16.55 local “I wouldn’t forget (Fabian) Cancellara, MPCC rules state that the rider must be rested for time (1455 GMT), Astana would be breaking MPCC (Matthias) Brandle, Rohan Dennis; it’s not just his own health. rules and perhaps be forced to leave the move- about Tom. “For sure in the past he was the closest Astana, like another 12 teams competing at the ment. (to Martin). It will be a nice fight and I’m confident I Tour, are voluntary members of the MPCC and ini- Two other teams did in fact leave the MPCC can beat him again.” As for the ‘fantastic four’ over- tially indicated their desire to respect the regula- earlier in the year over similar incidents. While a all contenders, 2013 champion Chris Froome tions. low cortisol level is not necessarily a sign of dop- believes he can put time into his rivals, Nibali, Giro However, their request to the International ing, it can be produced by the use of glucocorti- d’Italia winner and Colombian Cycling Union (UCI) to replace Boom with their costeroids, an anti-inflammatory drug that can Nairo Quintana. reserve rider Alessandro Vanotti was refused as it allow riders to break through the pain barrier. “It’s definitely the start of the GC (general classi- came too late. However, it can also be caused by fatigue, while fication) race, even though it’s such a short dis- It left Astana, who are under increased scrutiny the use of glucocorticosteroids can produce tance at just under 14km,” said the 30-year-old this year as a condition for having their licence fatigue and increase the risk of injury. Kenyan-born British Team Sky leader. renewed due to a string of doping scandals in Astana indicated their intention to take Boom “There can be time gaps; I’d expect time gaps 2014 — Kazakh brothers Maxim and Valentin to the start, while UCI president of at least up to 20 seconds between the GC con- Iglinsky both tested positive for the banned blood said that by doing so they would not be breaking tenders, so the race does start (Saturday) in that booster EPO while three riders on the secondary anti-doping rules. regard.” Continental Tour team failed tests for steroids-in a “Lars Boom has not broken any UCI or Wada The timetrial was due to begin at 1400 local difficult position. If they are to respect the MPCC rules, the issue of cortisol and cortisone has been time (1200 GMT) with debutant Daniel rules, they would have to start the race with just referred to Wada’s scientific experts and at the Teklehaimanot-one of two Eritreans alongside UTRECHT: Spain’s Alberto Contador crosses the finish line at the end of a 13.8 km eight riders, perhaps damaging Nibali’s chances of present moment they have not recommended we Merhawi Kudus making history by becoming the individual time-trial, the first stage of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France. —AFP retaining his crown. or anyone else take action to include that within first black Africans to race the Tour-first up. —AFP