Team Type 1 has confirmed that it is interested in signing the talented Eritrean talent rider Daniel Teklehaymanot to the squad, but is currently facing issues in trying to finalise the deal.
“We would definitely like to grab him,” Team Type 1 general manager Phil Southerland told VeloNation, “but will need some assistance. For us to sign him [at this point of the season], it would mean changing our bank guarantee. That is an expensive venture, both as regards the actual cost, and moreover the time needed to do so. We are in talks with the UCI to see if there is a way, but they have slowed a bit, which is a shame.”
If the deal doesn’t go through, it would be very unfortunate for the rider. He secured a trial with the Cervélo Test Team earlier this year and looked set to compete there in 2011, only to be left searching elsewhere when that squad came to a premature end.
Almost all the other riders linked to the squad have found pro contracts for next season, but he is still waiting.
Teklehaymanot has worked hard to try to secure something, racing with great flair in the final month of the season. He took five victories in 15 days in November, winning the team time trial, the individual time trial and the road race at the African cycling championships, then taking stage one plus the overall classification in the Tour of Rwanda.
It was in the latter event that Southerland first saw what he was capable of. “I didn't know much about him until Rwanda, but was then able to find out a lot about him there. Rwanda was definitely an impressive effort, but he has also had success at l’Avenir [sixth overall in 2009], and a few other races, and did so with very little support.
“He is a solid climber and time trialist, so he could do well in shorter stage races next year, and eventually a Grand Tour.”
With time running out prior to the start of the new season, Teklehaymanot is hoping that a solution is found soon and that he gets the lucky break he deserves.