2021 Team Qhubeka NextHash season

Team Qhubeka NextHash
2021 season
UCI code	TQA
Status	UCI WorldTeam
World Tour Rank	20th
Manager	Douglas Ryder (RSA)
Main sponsor(s)	Qhubeka Assos (until 23 June) NextHash Group (since 24 June)
Based	South Africa
Bicycles	BMC
Groupset	Shimano
Season victories
One-day races	2
Stage race stages	3
Most wins	Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) (3)
Best ranked rider	Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) (21st)

The 2021 season for Team Qhubeka NextHash was its sixth season as a UCI WorldTeam and its 15th overall. After last year's title sponsor, Japanese telecommunications company NTT, decided not to renew their contract with the team, South African bicycle charity organization Qhubeka, a former title sponsor, and Swiss clothing brand Assos stepped up to sponsor the team for two seasons. However, before the new sponsors were announced, the sponsorship crisis led to many riders seeking contracts with teams elsewhere, resulting in the departure of 19 of the 29 riders on the team last season.^[1][2]

Prior to the Tour de France, cryptocurrency investment company NextHash Group became the team's co-title sponsor as part of a five-year sponsorship deal, and the team rebranded as Team Qhubeka NextHash.^[3]

However, despite finding a sponsor mid-season again, the team faced financial problems. In December 2021, the UCI announced that the team would not receive a UCI WorldTour license for 2022.^[4] The team then announced they would continue at the UCI Continental level with the development team (Team Qhubeka) and hoped to return to the WorldTour in the future.^[5]

Team roster

As of 5 September 2021.^[6][7][8]

Rider Date of birth  Sander Armée (BEL) (1985-12-10)10 December 1985 (aged 35)  Fabio Aru[a] (ITA) (1990-07-03)3 July 1990 (aged 30)  Carlos Barbero (ESP) (1991-04-29)29 April 1991 (aged 29)  Sean Bennett (USA) (1996-03-31)March 31, 1996 (aged 24)  Connor Brown (NZL) (1998-08-06)6 August 1998 (aged 22)  Victor Campenaerts (BEL) (1991-10-28)28 October 1991 (aged 29)  Dimitri Claeys (BEL) (1987-06-18)18 June 1987 (aged 33)  Simon Clarke (AUS) (1986-07-18)18 July 1986 (aged 34)  Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) (1995-08-12)12 August 1995 (aged 25)  Kilian Frankiny (SUI) (1994-01-26)26 January 1994 (aged 26)  Michael Gogl (AUT) (1993-11-04)4 November 1993 (aged 27)  Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) (1992-02-11)11 February 1992 (aged 28)  Sergio Henao (COL) (1987-12-10)10 December 1987 (aged 33)  Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA) (1989-02-03)3 February 1989 (aged 31)

Rider Date of birth  Bert-Jan Lindeman (NED) (1989-06-16)16 June 1989 (aged 31)  Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) (1989-01-30)30 January 1989 (aged 31)  Matteo Pelucchi (ITA) (1989-01-21)21 January 1989 (aged 31)  Robert Power (AUS) (1995-05-11)11 May 1995 (aged 25)  Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) (1982-11-30)30 November 1982 (aged 38)  Mauro Schmid (SUI) (1999-12-04)4 December 1999 (aged 21)  Andreas Stokbro (DEN) (1997-04-08)8 April 1997 (aged 23)  Dylan Sunderland (AUS) (1996-02-26)26 February 1996 (aged 24)  Harry Tanfield (GBR) (1994-11-17)17 November 1994 (aged 26)  Karel Vacek (CZE) (2000-09-09)9 September 2000 (aged 20)  Emil Vinjebo (DEN) (1994-03-24)24 March 1994 (aged 26)  Max Walscheid (GER) (1993-06-13)13 June 1993 (aged 27)  Łukasz Wiśniowski (POL) (1991-12-07)7 December 1991 (aged 29)

1. Aru retired on 5 September, following the conclusion of the Vuelta a España.^[9][10]

Riders who joined the team for the 2021 season Rider 2020 team Sander Armée[11][12] Lotto–Soudal Fabio Aru[13][14] UAE Team Emirates Sean Bennett[15][16] EF Pro Cycling Connor Brown[17] neo-pro (NTT Continental Cycling Team) Dimitri Claeys[18] Cofidis Simon Clarke[18][19] EF Pro Cycling Kilian Frankiny[18] Groupama–FDJ Lasse Norman Hansen[20] Alpecin–Fenix Sergio Henao[12][21] UAE Team Emirates Bert-Jan Lindeman[8] Team Jumbo–Visma Matteo Pelucchi[20] Bardiani–CSF–Faizanè Robert Power[8] Team Sunweb Mauro Schmid[12] neo-pro (Leopard Pro Cycling) Harry Tanfield[17][22] AG2R La Mondiale Karel Vacek[15][16] neo-pro (Team Colpack–Ballan) Emil Vinjebo[17] Riwal Securitas Łukasz Wiśniowski[15][16] CCC Team

Riders who left the team during or after the 2020 season Rider 2021 team Samuele Battistella[23] Astana–Premier Tech Edvald Boasson Hagen[24][25] Total Direct Énergie Michael Carbel[26] Retired Stefan de Bod[23] Astana–Premier Tech Benjamin Dyball[27] Team Ukyo Sagamihara Enrico Gasparotto[28] Retired Amanuel Gebrezgabihier[29] Trek–Segafredo Ryan Gibbons[30][31] UAE Team Emirates Shotaro Iribe[27][32] Yowamushi Pedal Cycling Ben King[33] Rally Cycling Roman Kreuziger[34] Gazprom–RusVelo Gino Mäder[35] Team Bahrain Victorious Louis Meintjes[36] Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux Ben O'Connor[37] AG2R Citroën Team Matteo Sobrero[23] Astana–Premier Tech Jay Thomson[38] Retired Rasmus Tiller[27] Uno-X Pro Cycling Team Michael Valgren[39] EF Education–Nippo Danilo Wyss[27][32]

Season victories

Date	Race	Competition	Rider	Country	Location	Ref.
14 February	Clásica de Almería	UCI Europe Tour UCI ProSeries	Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA)	Spain	Roquetas de Mar	[40]
19 May	Giro d'Italia, Stage 11	UCI World Tour	Mauro Schmid (SUI)	Italy	Montalcino	[41][42]
21 May	Giro d'Italia, Stage 13	UCI World Tour	Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA)	Italy	Verona	[43][44]
23 May	Giro d'Italia, Stage 15	UCI World Tour	Victor Campenaerts (BEL)	Italy	Gorizia	[45][46]
1 August	Circuito de Getxo	UCI Europe Tour	Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA)	Spain	Getxo	[47]

References

1. Ostanek, Daniel; Benson, Daniel (28 September 2020). "NTT Pro Cycling to lose title sponsor at end of 2020". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
2. Benson, Daniel (20 November 2020). "NTT team confirmed to race on as Qhubeka Assos". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
3. "Qhubeka NextHash unveil Burberry partnership and new kit for Tour de France". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
4. Benson, Daniel (9 December 2021). "UCI refuses Qhubeka NextHash a WorldTour licence for 2022". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
5. "Team Qhubeka will continue, but not in the 2022 WorldTour". Special Broadcasting Service. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
6. "Team Qhubeka Assos". UCI. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
7. "Team - Team Qhubeka NextHash". Team Qhubeka NextHash. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
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9. Ostanek, Daniel (12 August 2021). "Fabio Aru to retire after Vuelta a Espana". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
10. Ballinger, Alex (12 August 2021). "Fabio Aru announces his retirement". Cycling Weekly. Future plc. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
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13. Benson, Daniel (2 December 2020). "Fabio Aru signs for Qhubeka Assos as he looks to save his career". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
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21. "Henao signs as first-ever Colombian for Team Qhubeka Assos". NTT Pro Cycling. 5 December 2020. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
22. "Harry Tanfield set for Qhubeka Assos move". CyclingNews. Future plc. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
23. Ostanek, Daniel (20 November 2020). "Battistella, Sobrero, De Bod head up six new Astana-Premier Tech signings". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
24. "Total Direct Energie sign Lawless and Boasson Hagen". CyclingNews. Future plc. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
25. Startt, James (1 December 2020). "Inside Total Direct Énergie's active moves on the rider market". VeloNews. Outside Interactive, Inc. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
26. "Danish riders Hansen and Carbel drop from WorldTour level as contracts not renewed". CyclingNews. Future plc. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
27. Bonville-Ginn, Tim (10 December 2020). "Cycling transfers 2021: All the ins and outs from the WorldTour". Cycling Weekly. Future plc. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
28. "Enrico Gasparotto calls time on 16-year career". CyclingNews. Future plc. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
29. "Trek–Segafredo make trio of new signings as Ghebreigzabhier, Tiberi and Skjelmose Jensen join". Eurosport. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
30. Gomes, Alaric (27 October 2020). "South African Ryan Gibbons signs for UAE Team Emirates". Gulf News. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
31. Farrand, Stephen (15 December 2020). "2021 Team Preview: UAE Team Emirates". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
32. Fletcher, Patrick (3 February 2021). "The search goes on: 9 WorldTour riders still without 2021 contracts". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
33. "Ben King returns to his roots with Rally Cycling in 2021". CyclingNews. Future plc. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
34. "Kreuziger signs one-year contract with Gazprom-RusVelo". CyclingNews. Future plc. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
35. "Mäder and Milan join Bahrain Victorious for 2021". CyclingNews. Future plc. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
36. "Louis Meintjes leaves NTT for Circus-Wanty Gobert". CyclingNews. Future plc. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
37. Benson, Daniel (23 October 2020). "Giro d'Italia star Ben O'Connor signs for AG2R Citröen". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
38. "Thomson retires after not being renewed by Qhubeka Assos". CyclingNews. Future plc. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
39. "Michael Valgren moves to EF Pro Cycling". VeloNews. Outside Interactive, Inc. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
40. "Nizzolo wins Clásica de Almería". CyclingNews. Future plc. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
41. Fletcher, Patrick (19 May 2021). "Giro d'Italia: Bernal gains time, Evenepoel loses contact on 'Strade Bianche' stage". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
42. "Giro d'Italia - 11 - Perugia - Montalcino (Brunello di Montalcino Wine Stage)". Giro d'Italia. Tissot Timing. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
43. Farrand, Stephen (21 May 2021). "Giro d'Italia: Nizzolo wins stage 13". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
44. "Giro d'Italia - 13 - Ravenna - Verona". Giro d'Italia. Tissot Timing. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
45. Goddard, Ben (23 May 2021). "Giro d'Italia: Victor Campenaerts wins stage 15". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
46. "Giro d'Italia - 15 - Grado - Gorizia". Giro d'Italia. Tissot Timing. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
47. "Nizzolo wins Circuito de Getxo". CyclingNews. Future plc. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.

External links

• 2021 Team Qhubeka NextHash season at ProCyclingStats