Boasson Hagen, Bos and co prepare for 2015 in Stellenbosch
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Edvald Boasson Hagen tucks in.
(Image credit: Sadhbh O'Shea)
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One fan takes a selfie with Serge Pauwels and Nicolas Dougall.
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The riders relax with a coffee.
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Eritrean riders Merhawi Kudus and Daniel Teklehaimanot.
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There was a chance to catch up at a picnic afterwards.
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Local police ensured the riders had plenty of room on the road.
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The pros mix it with the fans at the MTN-Qhubeka training camp in South Africa.
(Image credit: Sadhbh O'Shea)
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The MTN-Qhubeka fans were happy to be there and happy to keep up.
(Image credit: Sadhbh O'Shea)
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Some heavy traffic forced a small route change.
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The pros and amateurs went out for a two hour loop near the team's hotel.
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Doug Ryder signs one fan's jersey.
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There was plenty of healthy food on offer.
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The fans were given a chance to mingle with the riders.
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Daniel Teklehaimanot takes some photos of his teammates.
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Daniel Teklehaimanot took the chance to learn a new skill.
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There was a chance to relax for the riders at the MTN-Qhubeka camp.
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South African champion Louis Meintjes.
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Nicolas Dougall (MTN-Qhubeka).
(Image credit: Sadhbh O'Shea)
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Johann van Zyl and Theo Bos.
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A selection of the food on offer at the MTN-Qhubeka fan day.
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A lucky fan poses with a number of the new riders at MTN-Qhubeka.
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Edvald Boasson Hagen still in his Sky kit at the MTN-Qhubeka training camp.
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Jacques Janse van Rensburg explains his equipment to a fan.
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The riders congrate for the fan ride at the MTN-Qhubeka training camp.
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Edvald Boasson Hagen was one of the most popular riders.
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Natnael Berhane talks with one of the team's directeurs sportifs.
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Plenty of the MTN-Qhubeka team's fans turned up to ride.
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Reinardt Janse van Rensburg signs a fan's jersey at the MTN-Qhubeka training camp.
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The MTN Club 100 was well represented on the ride.
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New signing Serge Pauwels at the MTN-Qhubeka training camp.
(Image credit: Sadhbh O'Shea)
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Maerhawi Kudus, Youcef Reguigui and Natnael Berhane.
(Image credit: Sadhbh O'Shea)
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Serge Pauwels and Nicolas Dougall share a joke at the MTN-Qhubeka training camp.
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Local hero Sonzego Jim poses for photos.
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Steve Cummings joins MTN-Qhubeka from BMC.
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There was a quick talk about the route before everything got going.
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Theo Bos with team pricipal Doug Ryder.
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Steve Cummings talks with a British fan.
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A fan waits for the ride to begin.
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One paracyclist mixed it with the pros on his custom tricycle.
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There was some interesting equipment to be seen.
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Daniel Teklehaimanot (MTN-Qhubeka).
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Algerian rider Youcef Reguigui ahead of the fan ride at the MTN-Qhubeka training camp.
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MTN-Qhubeka marked the end of their week-long training camp in South Africa with a two-hour fan ride. A large number of fans made the journey to Stellenbosch for a chance to ride with their heroes and were given an opportunity to talk with them in a picnic afterwards. With the riders spending most of the year racing in Europe, it is a rare opportunity for the local fans to see them up close.
The short ride took the bunch around the rolling hillside of the Southern Cape, with the police ensuring that the riders had plenty of room on the roads. There was a wide variety of riders and although a few were dropped most were able to keep up with the 30kph average.
MTN-Qhubeka have been staying in the spectacular setting of the Spier Wine Hotel since last Sunday. Saturday marks the final day of activities, with most returning home on Sunday afternoon. The team will meet again in Majorca in January ahead of the new season, where they hope to make history by becoming the first African-registered team to ride the Tour de France.
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