Team Qhubeka NextHash
  • Multimedia content

  • Images (1)
    • Campenaerts secures third overall after a thrilling week of racing at the Benelux Tour
  • All (1)
Source: Team Qhubeka NextHash |

Campenaerts secures third overall after a thrilling week of racing at the Benelux Tour

Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain- Victorious) won the race overall, with his teammate Matej Mohorič placing in second

We may not have won, but we are very happy with our podium place

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 6, 2021/APO Group/ --

Victor Campenaerts secured third place in the general classification for Team Qhubeka NextHash (www.TeamQhubeka.com) after an exciting week of racing at the Benelux Tour. Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain- Victorious) won the race overall, with his teammate Matej Mohorič placing in second.

It was a strong week of racing from Campenaerts, with his most notable performances being 5th place on yesterday's queen stage and 8th place during the time trial. Max Walscheid also picked up two top 10 placings in the sprint stages and an impressive 5th place in the time trial, rounding off a strong week of teamwork for Team Qhubeka.

The final stage of the race was won by Mohorič, with Colbrelli finishing in second place and Tom Dumoulin (Team Jumbo-Visma) taking third place.

Victor Campenaerts- Rider

"Today was a very hard race, and Casper Asgreen opened the race very early, but we did super well as a team. We were always in control. We had Reinie in the breakaway, and then we joined the breakaway (Asgreen, Mohorič, and me) and Reinie was there to pull- it was awesome. In the end, everything came together. While I had no result today, I ended up with third place in the GC, which I am very excited about. This was all about being committed as a team. It was a clear goal to focus on this GC and every single rider (and staff member) believed in this GC. We may not have won, but we are very happy with our podium place. Now, I will look ahead to the European Championships which are coming up. It was a nice week of racing in Belgium/Netherlands and also quite special, there was no rain! Ubuntu."

Gino Van Oudenhove- Sports Director

"It has been a very hard seven days, but we have been in the race since day one with a dedicated team, including Victor in super shape. To pull off a podium here in the end, with two strong Bahrain riders is quite a big achievement for Victor and for the team. During the last stage, we made serious attempts to win the race, but Bahrain put in a strong race. With the help of Reinie, Gogl, Tanfield, and Stokbro on the last stage, we are really satisfied with this podium place."

Michael Gog- Rider

"It was a nice week with Victor being so strong. It was clear that he was going to be our leader for the GC and I think the podium in this race can really show itself off. I'm personally very happy. He is always seen as a time trialist, but I think he has made the transition to be a really good classics rider. The team performed well, especially today, with just five guys on the start line, it wasn't easy. But we managed well. Unfortunately, I had a mechanical in the last lap, but it all went well and I am happy for Victor and I am happy for the team. It was a good week."

Max Walscheid- Rider

"We stuck together very well as a team, Victor was committed from the beginning, having come from a high altitude training camp. We, as a team believed in him, and I think from a very hectic first day to the last day today, he was at a good level, we supported him as much as possible, and he had a great pair of legs to finish on the podium."

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka NextHash.

Media Contact:
Jean Smyth (Head of Communications)
Email: jean@ryder.co.za
Mobile: +27 63 470 1710 or +31 625 739 033

About Team Qhubeka NextHash:
Team Qhubeka NextHash is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world's biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka NextHash (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.

We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.

We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team's inception.

We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.

About Qhubeka:
Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.

A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 

All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.