He lost out on the chance to capitalise on his stage with the Cervélo Test Team when the squad folded at the end of last season, but Eritrean rider Daniel Teklehaimanot is tipped to make the step up to the pro ranks in 2012. Currently competing with the UCI’s World Cycling Centre, the 22 year old rider looks set to join the new GreenEdge team next season.
French website CyclismActu has said that it has confirmed the news with WCC officials; he is also rumoured to have been of interest to the Europcar team. Tomorrow is the start date for when transfer news can be made officially public, and so there may be confirmed news soon of his plans.
Teklehaimanot showed his talent two years ago when he finished sixth overall in the Tour de l’Avenir. A multiple African continental champion, he won a stage plus the overall in last year’s Tour de Rwanda, as well as a stage of this year’s Tropicale Amissa Bongo.
GreenEdge is aiming to become the first Australian WorldTour team in 2012. If it does so, it will secure a slot in the Tour de France and cycling’s other top events. Directeur sportif Neil Stephens said in a recent video interview that things are building well and the team is working hard to get all the necessary documentation to the UCI.