Stage Six – Geography Quiz: Where in the World is Eritrea?

If you guessed “Next to Djibouti,” you guessed right.  More specifically, it is in northeastern Africa along the southern coast of the Red Sea.  Ethiopia is “below” (south of) Eritrea, and Sudan is “above” Eritrea (north and west).  Beyond Sudan to the north is Egypt.  East of Eritrea – across the Red Sea – are Yemen and Saudi Arabia.  Got the picture?  Eritrea is a small country with a long, complex history of colonization and independence.  It is also the site of numerous discoveries of the earliest ancestors of the human race.  In recent years, it is the homeland of dozens of world-class long distance runners – men and women.

So, what does Eritrea have to do with the Tour de France?  Everything, that’s what.  In today’s Stage Six, Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot  (MTN-Qhubeka) joined Perrig Quemeneur (Europcar) and Kenneth Vanbilsen (Cofidis) in a long breakaway that lasted until the final kilometers.  Along the way, Teklehaimanot fought for, and won, the climbing points on all three category 4 “mountains.”  This bold effort allowed him to leap-frog Joaquim “Purito” Rodriguez (Katusha) for the Polka-Dot Jersey as the new King of the Mountains.  Daniel explained afterwards that from far-away Eritrea he has been dreaming of wearing the Polka-Dot Jersey in the Tour de France since he was just six years old.  Talk about an “impossible dream!”  There had never before even been an Eritrean cyclist to ride in the Tour.  When he first began to nurture this dream, there probably were zero Eritreans who were even professional cyclists.  He did not dream of wearing the Yellow Jersey, but just the Polka-Dot Jersey – the King of the Mountains. 

MTN Qhubeka is a new team in cycling, and this is their first invite to the Grand Tour – the first team ever from Africa.  The team is connected to a charitable foundation that provides bicycles to children in Africa to improve transportation and mobility, allowing these children easier access to schools and other benefits in their developing societies.  Teklehaimanot is joined on this year’s history-making squad by fellow countryman Merhawi Kudus.  The team’s modest goals coming into the Tour were to accomplish one or more of the following: win a stage, or at least a podium finish, show energy in breakaways, wear a prize jersey – even if just for one day.  Their most recognizable stars are Norwegian Edvald Boassen Hagan and American Tyler Farrar – both sprinters.  But Teklehaimanot is a rising star among climbers.  He won the Polka-Dot Jersey in this year’s Criterium du Dauphiné.  His victory on the climbs today was no accident.  He and his team had specifically planned for today’s tactic, and they worked the plan to perfection.  Chapeau (Hats off) to Teklehaimanot and to MTN Qhubeka!

In other news of today’s stage, Etixx-Quickstep claimed the victory, but not by Cavendish.  It was his teammate Zdenek Stybar who jumped ahead of the peleton on the final climb.  Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) came roaring up behind him for second place, with André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) nowhere to be seen.  This moved Sagan to within three seconds of Greipel for the Green Jersey.  The fight is on!

Sad news of the day:  Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep), after riding safely at the front of the peleton all day in his Yellow Jersey, had a nasty crash within a Km of the finish, and broke his collar bone.  With help from his teammates, he finished the stage, but post-race announcements say that he will not continue the Tour tomorrow.  He has been a sentimental favorite this year, after narrowly missing the Yellow Jersey time after time, and then finally claiming it with a stage win on day four.  Chapeau to you too, André Greipel.  Get well soon.

These photos are in honor of Daniel Teklehaimanot and his capture of the Polka-Dot Jersey.

The Polka-Dot Tour de France casquette was a gift to me from Elder Herb Clark after we watched last year's Tour together in Lentilly (near Lyon) - Stage 12, 2014.

As you might guess, my wife Suzanne and I love France.  She has decorated our home with her artistic French photos and just a few French roosters. 

We should take a survey and invite all readers of this blog to vote for their favorite photo from the above line-up.

In closing for today, I say again, "Chapeau to both Daniel Teklehaimanot and Tony Martin."