The rain was falling in sheets, sometimes solidifying to hail, and snow had fallen further up in the hills. The ground had turned to slush because of sleet and the roads were perilously slippery.
Daniel Teklehaimanot had been ordered to the front of the peloton by his team director and was working hard. For 20 kilometres he set the pace, but still the wind stabbed at him with an icy fury.
He could not keep warm. He pulled to the side of the road, dismounted, and with teeth chattering, climbed into the climate controlled interior of his team car.
While the weather at this year’s Volta a Catalunya was a far cry from the equatorial heat that Teklehaimanot is more accustomed to, there was no shame in his withdrawal.
GreenEdge teammate Julian Dean had already crashed out and was in hospital while notable riders such as Frank Schleck were included among the 34 to abandon that day.
A further five had taken one look at the weather in the morning and decided to not even start.
For Teklehaimanot, from the northern African nation of Eritrea, the conditions were nothing short of torturous.
The fact that the lanky African (190cm tall and with only three percent body fat) lasted so long is testament to his determination to succeed at the elite level – a determination that now sees him on the eve of his grand tour debut.
Included in Orica-GreenEdge’s squad for the Vuelta a Espana, Teklehaimanot’s career continues to advance at a steady rate.
The man who claimed the 2010 Tour of Rwanda and then cleaned up at the African championships that same year (snaring six continental titles – road race, ITT and time trial at both under 23 and elite level), was first noticed by the UCI in 2008.
Fresh from becoming Eritrea’s road race champion, Teklehaimanot was invited to attend the World Cycling Centre – an initiative set up by the UCI to develop and nurture riders from poorer nations with limited cycling infrastructure.
Based at the UCI’s headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland, the World Cycling Centre assists its students with training programs, tactical knowledge, nutrition, language lessons and medical testing.
It was while undergoing one of these routine medical tests that Teklehaimanot was diagnosed with tachycardia, a heart condition similar to the one that brought a halt to the career of former under-23 Australian national champion Will Walker.
Affecting the natural rhythm of the heart, it is a potentially life threatening condition, especially for athletes where exertion is a normal part of their day.
An operation early in 2009 rectified the problem, and his trainer – acclaimed French coach Michel Theze – was astonished at Teklehaimanot’s powers of recovery.
He resumed riding in May and within a month had returned to near his best. Soon after he finished sixth at the Tour de l’Avenue, keeping company with Tejay Van Garderen and Romain Sicard, who also finished in the top 10.
His transition from World Cycling Centre trainee to WorldTour rider came via a stint as a stagiaire for Cervelo, a vital learning experience for someone from a non-traditional cycling background.
Yet he still came to Orica-GreenEdge with only half the number of races that a similarly aged pro rider would have accumulated.
As such, his Australian team directors originally considered him to be a long term project.
That he has been included in the team’s roster for the Vuelta a Espana shows that he is tracking ahead of schedule.
They must be quietly confident of the young African’s future.
Not everything has been easy though. Teklehaimanot still struggles with the weather (GreenEdge general manager Shane Bannan actually sent him back to Eritrea earlier this year as the winter in Italy was too extreme) and his limited English is a drawback.
While time spent at the Benalla home of team mate Baden Cooke over summer no doubt expanded his vocabulary, one gets the impression that the quietly spoken Eritrean prefers to let his actions do the talking.
To understand the depth of Teklehaimanot’s achievements, you must first understand where he has come from.
While Eritrea has been independent for almost 20 years, it took a bloody 30 year civil war against Ethiopia to get there, the scars of which do not heal over night.
Shadowed by such a backdrop, and with no competitive cycling infrastructure or culture in place, Teklehaimanot has achieved the impossible. He has made the WorldTour.
A shining example to not only his fellow countrymen, but to all young athletes, Teklehaimanot is a trail blazer.
Already another eight young African riders have taken their places at the World Cycling Centre, among them Natnael Berhane, also from Eritrea.
At just 23 years of age, Teklehaimanot is a stage racer in the making.
Already a handy time trialler, his physiological testing has indicated that he has the potential to develop into an accomplished climber.
His role at the Vuelta will be to assist Cameron Meyer, but further down the track it is possible that we may see the WorldTour’s first black African rider leading a team of his own.
For many of us, the Vuelta will be the first real look we get of this young rider in action, but whatever the result, he deserves to be applauded for his endeavours thus far.
A.Russel
Guest
I agree with everything that you have just said. It is great to see that he hs been giving his chance based on merit, and on your point of rasing the profile of the sport; As someone from Eritrea living in Europe I have taken a keen interest on his progress and cycling in general since hes been introduced to the world stage.
benyam
Guest
I have been following this young man for quite sometime and he has progressed very well. In a few years, he should be able to compete in the tour. The only delima may come from pressure within the peleton which 75% of them may be doping and to compete int that level he may be succumb to do that. I hope he has a good sense to be able to say no to that and use his pure talent to compete. I am sure he will do well. We will see. Former Racer.
daniel
Guest
Dear Sean Lee a lot have been going in the world on cycling since I wrote well somewhere at the end of vuelta. This time Rabobank is out of the sport for good, I believe,apologizing for my cynicism, if you know what I mean. Last time I was thinking to write about the similarities of the honorably retired David moncoutie and Daniel, well the one is of course starting in a supposedly clean era, and my always at the back of the peloton when not at the escape group Moncoutie was always riding with, against all odds, some with horse powers of cc 250 motorbikes powered by clean energy products, good for the environment, I guess, instead of the bananas and usual carbohydrates you name it, that the peloton leftover not good for the streets of the tdf sponsorer spring water Evian. I am hoping things will go right and come to grips in my beloved sport, unless, I am imagining I will be watching tour of Qatar next year,they can sponsor anything including powered by clean energy or water and bananas, they have the money will write more
Sean Lee
Expert
Thanks for commenting Daniel. Keep following the cycling mate and barrack hard for Daniel T and Orica-GreenEdge. Good things will happen!
daniel
Guest
i love cycling. eventhough i could not ride myelf, still love every professional rider from every nation, including armstrong with a bit irony, and no judgemet there, but still love him.And eriteans forget our rubbish politics and talk about cycling and daniel is amazing considering the profesional cycling attitude,he is a hamble guy with touch of himulity am sure he will go a long way. thankx orica greenedge, matt white all of u guys there will write more
Sean Lee
Expert
Thanks for your contributions and debate. It gives us a glimpse into the issues facing not only Eritrea's athletes but its society in general. It gives us outsiders a greater understanding of what is happening outside of our own environments.
Meron D.
Guest
Good observation and read Yaccob and Robel. It really is a joy to read and discuss issues that concern our sport, especially cyling. I rekon it is every Eritrean's hope that things in our country change for good and we all start to enjoy this beautiful sport without any obstacles. @Yaccob M. I totally agree with your comments about all the issues you raised including the fact that the current government is one of the main reasons for the current poor status of our sport in general. @ robel I dont see any problem with discussing sport in relation to politics. After all thats what all countries (especially those with a tyrant governments such as Eritrea and North Korea) are doing. They try to cover their ugly face by decieving the internatiional couminity with their cheap politics. Some people such as yourself think that becaus certain athletes managed to make it to the big tournaments the governemt is doing good things to promote sport in the country. But the truth is they are doing it for political benefits. As simple as that. Yeah I cant stress enough the political benefit thing. Zeri'esenay, Daniel, Natnael and few other riders are being used as an instrument in their cheap propaganda of fraud. What you said about athletes are being excused from national service is a totall lie. Where did you get that info. By the have you ever been to the country? If so then I am sure you wouldnt have said such thiing. It is a disgrace. You are misinforming people who doesnt have credible info about the country. IN ERITREA EVERYONE WHO IS FIT ENOUGH AND UNDER 50 YEARS OLD IS LEGIBLE FOR THE NON-ENDING NATIONAL SERVICE (I CALL IT SERVITUDE) WHICH ALOS INCLUDES MILITARY TRAINING. I know this fact because I have been through all the difficulties and all members of my family, my neighbours and all Eritrean youths are still going through the same thing. Isnt the fact that heaps of Eritrean youths (including athletes) fleeing the country one of the main reasons for the weakening of sport in Eritea. Why are they abandoning the country. They were supposed to be the future in everything. But they are all fleeing the country. What happened to the full national team that went missing in Kenya? Where are the likes of Habte, Gombolo and Amanuel Iyasu (all were promising riders who went to Europe and went missing)? Where the different athletes who went missing in all parts of the world? As recently as a couple of weeks ago, 4 athletes including an Eritrean Athlete, Weynay Ghebresilasie, who competed in men’s 3000m Steeplechase in the London Olympics 2012, sught political asylum in the UK. (plsease go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/aug/15/eritrea-runner-seeks-asylum-uk?newsfeed=true and have a good read and you will find out the truth) Why do you think this happened and is still happening? Thats the true image my friend. Do your part, talk the truth or just keep quite and get informed!
robel
Guest
Good analysis, But Eritrea has competitive cycling tradition for more than 60 years! @Yaccob M. ''who did all they can (the existing government is still doing) to discourage the sport in the country,'' I beg to let your politics aside, though i oppose the current government, for Gods sake speak the truth. The only good thing the government currently doing is encourage athletes specially cycling. ASBECO [Natnael's team], southern region administration [ daniels team] and Eritel [the main team in the country] all government owned companies, invest millions of money for hundreds of cyclist . Are you telling me they are doing this to discourage sport. Come on talk to your heart. for info cyclists are more previlleged citizen in Eritrea. To give u example, Every Eritrean above 18 is obliged to do military training the nation service ( unfortunately for unlimited time) and no one can escape this. But cyclists are allowed not to do it ( take Daniel and Natnael as simple example they never go to military training) . So my friend Let politics aside don't give wrong images ! Do your part, oppose the regime in politics not sport !
Yaccob M.
Guest
"...and with no competitive cycling infrastructure or culture in place, Teklehaimanot has achieved the impossible." I beg to differ with that statement. Eritrea has got a very long tradition of competitve cycling. It goes back to the 1930s and 40s during which time the country was under the Italian colonisation. Eritrean riders, with the limited resources they had then were beating the hell out of the Italians. And since then many riders managed to compete in different international races and won many races. The likes of Yemane Tekeste, Zere'egabir, Desalegn Negash and Yonas Zekarias (Daniel's coach at the London Olypmics) are some of the famous names of the most loved and talked-about sport in the country. People love the sport so much that some parents even missed their siblings weddings or other important social activities to just attend races in the capital Asmara. Also, many international riders (from Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, Algeria, Italy, Russia and many more) arrived in Eritrea to compete and left the country beaten and surprised by the quality of the riders there. In the early 2000s the sport was so popular in the country and there were around 1500 young (all uner 20 years old) registered riders in the country. I guess thats a lot in a country with a population of 4.5 million If it wasnt for the different colonial powres in the country (the Italians, British, the Ethiopians and now the existing government of Eritrea) who did all they can (the existing government is still doing) to discourage the sport in the country, the country would have been one of, if not the best, cycling nations in the world. It is true that Daniel is the first rider to come out of Eritrea and compete with all the professional riders in the big grand tours. But that doesnt make the cycling culture in Eritrea as non competitive or poor.
Sean Lee
Expert
Yeah, he deserves his chance, and it is good to see that he has got there on merit as well. It can only be good for cycling and will raise the profile of the sport in yet another part of the world. I think it is exciting.
Moses
Roar Rookie
It was very good to see him wear the KoM jersey at the Tour of Poland for a few days and even better to see him named in the team’s Vuelta squad. His confidence must be growing. Good on GreenEDGE for taking the punt on him; I hope it pays off for both parties.