Mark Cavendish joins Team Dimension Data
Brit Mark Cavendish, the most successful sprinter of the last decade, had joined Team Dimension Data, formerly MTN-Qhubeka, after three years with Etixx-QuickStep. Dimension Data is Cavendish’s first Pro Continental team after four WorldTour and ProTour squads.
Also joining Dimension Data are what will be two important pieces of Cavendish’s leadout train–Australian Mark Renshaw, following the Manxman over from Etixx, and Austrian Bernie Eisel, reunited with Cavendish from Sky after three years apart. All three riders signed three-year contracts.
Cavendish has 132 career wins, including 13 stage wins and one GC victory in 2015.
Proud to announce that I'll be starting a new, exciting adventure next year with @TeamMTNQhubeka. Very excited! https://t.co/QbX6Qdqegp
— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) September 29, 2015
Cavendish will be riding Canadian Cervélo bikes after three years on Specialized machines preceded by one year on Pinarellos.
In a statement on the South African team’s website, Cavendish said, “I’m super excited about becoming a part of the Team for 2016. It is a team that I have watched closely as it has grown, especially over this season and been really impressed with the spirit, strength and dynamics of the group. It’s fair to say that most of the peloton has seen how incredible the Team raced this year. To join it with the target of helping to win even more races with other strong, experienced household cycling names like Mark Renshaw, Edvald Boasson-Hagen, Tyler Farrar, Daniel Teklehaimanot, Steve Cummings and of course Bernie Eisel is going to be real special, as well as assisting the talent of the young, African riders to top level success.”
This season MTN-Qhubeka enjoyed its first two Grand Tour stage victories via Brit Steve Cummings in the Tour de France and Italian Kristian Sbaragli in the Vuelta a España. Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot also became the first African to wear the polka dot jersey in the Tour de France.
It’s been a big week for the team as both Dimension Data and person services giant Deloitte came on board as title sponsor and gold sponsor respectively.
