Team MTN-Qhubeka today announced the signing of Martin Reimer. The German retired from the sport in 2011 at the age of 24 after riding for Skil-Shimano. It came as a surprise but Reimer said he could not find a team suited to his mentality in the top echelons of the sport, and was not willing to drop to a continental level.
He says he has found a great fit in MTN-Qhubeka for 2013.
“I quit cycling last year because I couldn’t find a team that shared my mentality but this year taught me how much I love the sport,” Reimer said.
“I really missed racing and am excited to return with Team MTN-Qhubeka. This is a special African project and I am glad to be part of it.
“I worked with some of the management at Team MTN-Qhubeka like Thomas Campana and Jens Zemke at Cervélo TestTeam. They told me about Team MTN-Qhubeka and I was very interested immediately.”
Reimer is a former German National Road champion at elite and under 23 level. While riding for the Cervélo TestTeam in 2009 he also finished third in the Tour of Britain as well as ninth in Paris-Tours.
“Martin is a very strong short stage race and one day Classic rider and we believe that we can get him back to his best condition like three years ago, when he was German National road champion,” said team principal Douglas Ryder.
“He is the final rider of our international contingent of riders and I am very confident in the six international riders we have signed. They will lead and mentor our 15 South African and African riders to great success in 2013.”
MTN-Qhubeka also revealed its complete roster for 2013, when it will hopes to be Africa’s first UCI Pro Continental team.
Team MTN-Qhubeka 2013 roster:
Gerald Ciolek (GER)
Ignatus Konovalovas (LTU)
Sergio Pardilla (SPA)
Jay Thomson (RSA)
Louis Meintjes (RSA)
Johann van Zyl (RSA)
Andreas Stauff (GER)
Martin Reimer (GER)
Youcef Reguigui (ALG)
Kristian Sbaragli (ITA)
Frekalsi Debesay (ERI)
Tsgabu Grmay (ETH)
Adrien Niyonshuti (RWA)
Meron Russom (ERI)
Jani Tewelde (ERI)
Songezo Jim (RSA)
Bradley Potgieter (RSA)
Dennis van Niekerk (RSA)
Jacques Janse van Rensburg (RSA)
Jaco Venter (RSA)
Martin Wesemann (RSA)