Cycle racing Eritrea 's hope in anxious days

By : Thijs Zonneveld
Published: Today 1:46
Update: Today 1:46

He really is : a black man on a road bike . The Hope Black Africa is called Daniel Teklehaimanot . " This guy is just very good bikes. "

Photo: ETIENNE GARNIER / VELOFOTOPRO

A cyclist using Eritrean , that sounds as implausible as a Somali or a skating bobsleeënde Vietnamese. But it's true . Daniel Teklehaimanot (21) is the name the biggest black talent at the moment. His fans call him the Hope of Black Africa . Last year he was sixth in the final standings of the Tour of the Future , next week he starts an internship at Cervelo . But how on earth does one go to the Eritrean pro peloton ? And why is he the only black African?

" Make no mistake , "said Gudo Kramer , manager of the global Marco Polo cycling team . " Eritrea is the only country in the world where the largest national cycling sport. If your morning plane outside the capital Asmara drive , you see the whole road full of cyclists. Of kids with mountain bikes to riders from afgeragde teams sponsored by the state. There is a lot riding above good climbers around – those little marathon runner like males a high oxygen uptake . At the Tour of Eritrea is the daily black people . "

Publicity Stunt
But that is good news enough, despite claims Kramer : " Eritrea is no rule of law . The regime suppressed people . The country is full of roadblocks , there 's always the threat of war , money is no . And travel abroad is very difficult because visa problems . Add these negative aspects together and you know why there are no Eritrean ride in the Tour . "

The Belgian anthropologist doing research in January Boesman the absence of black riders in the peloton . Bushman : " Cycling is a predominantly white sport. Asians and South Americans have been introduced , but there are hardly any black Africans . Those who were brought here , were a kind fairs. In 2002 a Kenyan in Belgium drove around in a small ploegje . One Duncan Seko . That poor man was here as a publicity stunt . He was his team leader from one camera after another dragged . When the joke was off, he had to turn back . Now we are in Flanders during the winter at a bunch of bumbling Zimbabwe cyclo-cross riders in the TV series Allez Allez Zimbabwe. That is exactly same . There are numerous studies on the physical differences between white and black athletes , but I believe that the cultural and economic factors are more important . Children in Belgium grow with the course , tactics and equipment – from Africa may not know what a curve is. "

Kramer: The best Ethiopian runners so you can to come to Europe – who are there right away. In cycling is that not. It takes time before the skill, tactics and rate hardness have mastered . We have a few years ago a Eritrean and Ethiopian runners set to the Netherlands to inform them to do with European races . These men were extremely strong . Uphill they had no problem – but once the way down they were seen walking . Descent you must also learn . After several games were suddenly a few disappeared. Submerged . Especially those Eritreans do not want to return to a country where gold is nothing. "

Globalization Project
But after the rides , stunt the boot and refugees is now Daniel Teklehaimanot . He was in Eritrea picked up by the International Cycling Union UCI . The union gave him shelter in the training center in Aigle , Switzerland and schotelde him competitions as part of a globalization project. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and is now on its way to a contract with a major European team. Cervelo manager Joop Alberda : " This internship is last test . Daniel gets the chance to prove themselves . Not because he black , but because he made some very good results together has driven . Of course he is advertising interesting, but you only a few days teren . Since we do not . This boy is just very good bikes. "

And Teklehaimanot yourself ? Is that not so busy status . "I am here to be a good rider , not for rates across Africa . I do not have adjustment problems . Yes, it is freezin . I can not help but change. "