New Dimension for Cavendish

Team MTN-Qhubeka will be known as Team Dimension Data from 2016 in a move that could pave the way for Mark Cavendish to join them.

As MTN-Qhubeka, the African team have made a big impact at this year’s Tour de France, where the Briton Steve Cummings won the 14th stage on Mandela Dayand Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot became the first African to wear the race’s King of the Mountains jersey.

Cavendish, a 26-time Tour de France stage winner, has been linked with the squad, with his three-year Etixx-Quick-Step deal expiring imminently.

The 30-year-old raced for the Belgian squad for the final time after sustaining a shoulder injury in crashing out of the Tour of Britain, won by MTN-Qhubeka’s Edvald Boasson Hagen.

The sponsorship of the UCI Professional Continental team by Dimension Data is anticipated to take it to the next level, and the global IT company will continue to support the Qhubeka charity, which has provided more than 4,000 bicycles in its BicyclesChangeLives campaign.

The team principal Douglas Ryder said: “We are incredibly excited to have Dimension Data become our new title partner. It enables us to continue to support the development of African cycling and the Qhubeka charity at the highest levels in world cycling.

“This is the next step in our journey and we look forward to accelerating our collective ambitions through this partnership.”

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Kennaugh Withdraws from Giro

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Peter Kennaugh has withdrawn from Team Sky's nine-man Giro d'Italia squad, leaving team-mate Ben Swift as the only British rider in the race.

Kennaugh claimed the first title of his career in March but has struggled to recover from an illness that also forced him out of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

"I'm feeling better but I'm behind on where I wanted to be. The plan is to be competing in a few weeks," he said.

Chris Sutton has been drafted in for the race, which starts on Friday.

The Australian supported Chris Froome in the Tour de France champion's most recent triumph at the Tour de Romandie.

The three-week race begins with three stages in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland before heading to Italy.

Team Sky squad in full:

Dario Cataldo (Ita), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor), Philip Deignan (Ire), Bernhard Eisel (Aut), Sebastian Henao (Col), Chris Sutton (Aus), Salvatore Puccio (Ita), Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr), Ben Swift (GB).

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Sky Deignan in Giro Debut

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Philip Deignan will make his Grand Tour debut for Team Sky when the Giro d'Italia starts in Belfast next month.

Deignan, who joined Team Sky over the winter, was set back by a shoulder injury early in the season, but he is now ready for his first three-week race with the team and is part of a solid nine-man squad for the year's first Grand Tour.

The team also features Italian riders Dario Cataldo and Salvatore Puccio alongside Pete Kennaugh, Ben Swift, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Bernhard Eisel, Sebastian Henao and Kanstantsin Siutsou.

Australia star Richie Porte, who had been tabbed as the Giro team leader, was forced to withdraw from the race earlier this month after illness cost him precious preparation time - he will turn his attentions to supporting Chris Froome in his Tour de France repeat bid.

This year's race starts with three stages outside Italy, taking in Northern Ireland and Ireland and kicking off with a time trial in Belfast on Friday May 9.

The race will move on to Italy from May 13 with the last of the 21 stages in Trieste on June 1.

On confirming the line-up Team Principal, Sir Dave Brailsford, said: "The Giro d'Italia is a fantastic race and this year provides a great opportunity for the team to go out and really express themselves on the bike.

"We've brought together an exciting squad and we can't wait, not only for the start in Northern Ireland, but to perform in front of our Italian fans."

Deignan said: "As soon as I heard that the Giro d'Italia was starting in Northern Ireland it was a goal of mine to be there, and racing there with Team Sky is a real honour for me.

"We're going with a good balance of youth and experience; we're all looking forward to it. Growing up in County Donegal I never dreamt of riding a Grand Tour here in Ireland and this is my chance. I'm going to relish every minute of it racing in front of my friends and family."

And Cataldo added: "This will be my seventh appearance in the Giro d'Italia, so it is a race that has a place in my heart.

"The race has a great history in Italy and when I was growing up it was always a dream to ride in my home country.

"Without a doubt it was the race that inspired me to start riding a bike as a young boy, so for an Italian bike rider this is as good as it gets.

"We have a strong and exciting team going into the race and we're all looking forward to the challenge ahead. For me, going home to race is always a pleasure and I can't wait to get started."

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Mollema Wins Stage 17

La Vuelta

Dutch rider Bauke Mollema won stage 17 of the Vuelta a España  but Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall lead.

The time gaps between the top four in the general classification were unchanged, with Italy's Nibali leading American Chris Horner by 28 seconds.

Ireland's Nicolas Roche moved up from sixth to fifth place after finishing 10th in Wednesday's stage, but trails Nibali by three minutes and 43 seconds.

Mollema edged out Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen for the stage victory.

With the majority of the leading riders receiving the same time for the 189km stage from Calahorra to Burgos in northern Spain, Astana rider Nibali's 14th place was enough to retain his narrow advantage over RadioShack's Horner, who came 17th.

With four stages remaining, the race continues on Thursday with Stage 18 - a 186.5km mountainous stage from Burgos to Pena Cabarga.

Result of Stage 17:

1. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands/Belkin) 4 hours, 44 minutes, 28 seconds

2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway/Team Sky) same time

3. Maximiliano Richeze (Argentina/Lampre)

4. Tyler Farrar (US/Garmin)

5. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland/RadioShack)

6. Grega Bole (Slovenia/Vacansoleil)

7. Luca Paolini (Italy/Katusha)

8. Paul Voss (Germany/NetApp)

9. Jose Herrada (Spain/Movistar)

10. Nicolas Roche (Ireland/Saxo - Tinkoff)

Overall standings after Stage 17:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 68 hours, 50 minutes, 29 seconds

2. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +28 secs

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +1:14

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) +2:29

5. Nicolas Roche (Ireland/Saxo-Tinkoff) +3:43

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/AG2R) +5:09

7. Thibaut Pinot (France/FDJ.fr) +6:08

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic/NetApp) +6:17

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +7:33

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia/Astana) +10:52

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