Nicholas Dlamini and Travis Stedman have been invited to join Team Qhubeka; this is a massive opportunity for both men – Dlamini takes on a mentorship role for the team.
South Africa (03 February 2022) – Team Qhubeka has announced the 2022 team and two South Africans are on it this year. Nicholas Dlamini makes a return to the team as a rider and mentor while 19-year-old Travis Stedman joins as a new rider.
The team boasts a wide range of diverse talents from South Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Italy. Team Qhubeka plays a crucial role in cycling’s fabric, with over 50 riders from Africa having had the opportunity to grow through our programme and race at the highest level, which in 2019 saw Samuele Battistella crowned the under-23 World Champion.
26-year-old Nicolas Dlamini, pictured above, from Cape Town, South Africa, has accepted the unique role as a mentor and rider for the Team Qhubeka UCI Continental team. The team is based in Lucca, Italy. Dlamini graduated from the team’s development outfit before turning professional in 2018.
“I am really excited to stay with Team Qhubeka as the team means an enormous amount to me and is a part of my DNA. To continue to support the Qhubeka Charity in racing for a purpose is completely unique across not only cycling, but all sport.
The team has given me personal opportunities including being able to fulfil my childhood dream and to ride at the Tour de France. This year I will fill a mentorship role to the under 23 riders in the squad. Having moved through the ranks and now being able to mentor the youngsters in the team and show them the ropes, will be extremely fulfilling for me.
Regarding the Tour de France, there is unfinished business and I would love to go back to the Tour to finish what I started; I still have a lot of years ahead of me to race my bike and to achieve my dreams and goals.”
It is inspiring to see so many cycling dreams come true. We cannot wait to see what the future has in store for both Dlamini and Stedman.
Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through the organisation’s programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics, and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go.
Team Qhubeka 2022
- Nicholas Dlamini – 26 (South Africa – Mentor and rider)
- Renus Uhiriwe – 20 (Rwanda)
- Negasi Abreha – 21 (Ethiopia)
- Ghebrehiwet Birhane – 21 (Eritrea)
- Kevin Bonaldo – 21 (Italy)
- Mattia Guasco – 21 (Italy)
- Luca Coati – 22 (Italy)
- Travis Stedman – 19 (South Africa – new rider)
- Nahom Zeray Araya – 19 (Eritrea – new rider)
- Efrem Gebrehiwet Araya – 19 (Eritrea – new rider)
- Jacopo Meneghotto – 21 (Italy – new rider)
- Nicolo Parisini – 21 (Italy – new rider)
- Raffaele Mosca – 18 (Italy – new rider)
- Alessandro Iacchi – 22 (Italy – new rider)
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