Cycling: Now it's getting really exciting. The WorldTour newcomer Dimension Data is extremely interesting in many respects: With Mark Cavendish, the South African racing team signed a big name, and we could also see hydraulic gears from Rotor on the team bikes for the first time.
Dimension Data overview
Welcome Dimension Data to the WorldTour! In the last few seasons, the team was still on the road under the name MTN-Qhubeka and for the 2016 season, with new financially strong sponsors, it made the leap into the highest license class. The South African team has caused quite a stir in the past – and not just at home. The past season in particular was nothing less than a success story for what was then the ProContinental team.
At first glance, the bare results of the African team don't look particularly impressive. In particular, the spring classics, in which one had pinned such high hopes, were extremely disappointing and the team did not win. So why a success story? The sticking point this year was undoubtedly the Tour de France, where the team celebrated its debut. Daniel Teklehaimanot made a save meanwhile the dotted jersey and again and again you saw a driver in black and white jersey in the escape group. But the big highlight was definitely that Day win by Steven Cummings on the 14th stage of the Grand Boucle. In the team ranking, MTN even made it to an impressive fifth place. Kristian Sbaragli dropped the team at the Vuelta second Grand Tour stage win cheer while Boasson Hagen even secured overall victory at the Tour of Britain.
So it wasn't necessarily the bare results that made the season so successful, but the sequence, the timing, in which the successes of the season were recorded. The difficult start to the season welded the team together and was a first test of endurance, the successful tour heaved drivers, those responsible and fans on a wave of euphoria that lasted until the finale. Then in the fall rumors arose, Mark Cavendish was about to join the team and there was talk of a new big sponsorship deal, the WorldTour already smelled heavy.
In the end it happened like this: First the team gave a new sponsorship deal with the South African IT service provider Dimension Data known, who will also be the namesake from next season. Shortly thereafter followed the official announcement of Mark Cavendish's move from Etixx-QuickStep, followed by his Trainer and companion Rolf Aldag. With Mark Renshaw and Bernhard Eisel, other former colleagues from Cavendish were also committed, who together could form one of the strongest sprint trains of 2016. The Grant of WorldTour License for Dimension Data a few weeks ago then was the icing on a fairytale year 2015 for the South African team.
Undoubtedly, Dimension Data is the most exciting team for 2016. WorldTour newcomer, new namesake, new top riders, new direction. Many question marks and it is to be expected that there could still be a little sand in the gears, especially at the beginning of the season. But with drivers like Cavendish, Hagen or Teklehaimanot, the first victories of the season will certainly only be a matter of time. But will the team succeed in letting the next fairytale year follow? We will see.
Dimension Data - Transfers
Departures: Louis Meintjes (Lampre-Merida), Matt Goss (ONE Pro Cycling), Gerald Ciolek (Stolting Service Group)
Additions: Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep), Bernhard Eisel (Team Sky), Omar Fraile (Caja Rural), Nathan Haas (Cannondale-Garmin), Cam Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge), Mark Renshaw (Etixx-QuickStep), Kanstanstin Siutsou (Team skies)
Dimension Data - Team Bikes and Gear
team bike: Dimension Data is the only WorldTour team that relies on bikes from the Canadian luxury manufacturer Cervélo. Cavendish and Co. will probably spend most of the minutes in the saddle of the top road model Cervelo R5 spend. Depending on the requirements and route profile, the choice could also fall on the aero model S5 or the new endurance bike C5. The Dimension-Data professionals, on the other hand, will fight against the clock on the Cervélo P5 . provide
components: Here, too, it will be extremely exciting in the coming season at Dimension Data. Last year, the team was still on the road with a Shimano drive, but already relied on cranks and power measurement from the Spanish manufacturer Rotor, which is now also presenting its first fully hydraulic drive at the Eurobike Rotor UNO presented. Some riders are already training with the Rotor UNO, so 2016 could well be the first time we'll see hydraulic shifting in the peloton. There has been no change in the wheels: the carbon specialists from Enve are still trusted here.
The future? testing @cervelo #r3disc & @rotor_bike uno groupset around the roads of Belgium. 🚴🏿💨 pic.twitter.com/OeimIiO9FF
— Matt Brammeier (@Mattbrammeier85) 24 December 2015
disc brakes: The pros from Dimension Data seem well prepared for the brake revolution: not only has Cervélo repeatedly let it be known in recent weeks that there will be a road bike with disc brakes for 2016 – the Cervélo R3 Disc – but the team can also rely on brakes from Use Shimano or Rotor. Dimension Data rider Matt Brammeier tweeted a photo of his training bike last week: an R3 Disc with Rotor UNO hydraulic groupset and Rotor hydraulic disc brakes. So there's a lot of choice for the drivers - we're curious to see which setup they will choose.