Team Dimension Data Gear up for Dubai Tour 2018

Team Dimension Data are gearing up for the 5th edition of the Dubai Tour which kicks off on February 6 until February 10, 2018 and will feature five stages, including the short but sharp uphill finish at Hatta Dam. The 7-member 2018 Team Dimension Data roster is comprised of the Manxman, its main sprinter Mark Cavendish, Jay Thomson, Mark Renshaw, Bernie Eisel, Julien Vermote, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier and Mekseb Debesay. At Dubai Tour, the team will not old be focused on getting on the podium,  but will also race for its #BicyclesChangeLives campaign, a drive to raise funds for the Qhubeka charity, which provides bicycles to people in Africa.

“Cycling is such a high-tech sport, and we’ve leveraged technology and data through our high performance team to build the bridge from racing in Africa to competing successfully against the best in the world on the global race calendar. We are incredibly excited to have Team Dimension Data participate in the 5th edition of the Dubai Tour and are looking forward to some fantastic results,” said Mechelle Buys Du Plessis, Managing Director, Dimension Data Middle East.

Technology and Sport Synergy

Dimension Data has been at the forefront of technological advancements when it comes to cycling. In 2017, Dimension Data’s data analytics platform, which was developed in partnership with Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) – the organisers of the Tour de France, incorporated machine learning and complex algorithms that combined live and historical race data to provide even deeper levels of insight as the race unfolded. The enhanced Tour de France solution used a fully cloud-based, virtualised data centre which provided scale, and meant fewer people were required on the ground to enable the solution. The cloud also provided geographic flexibility because it could be managed from anywhere in the world. Last year, Dimension Data’s technical teams work together across four continents via hyperconnected mobile collaboration hubs equipped with the latest digital and virtual workplace technologies.

Not only has Dimension data introduced live data and analytics to the largest cycling event in the world, but as title sponsor of Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, are also committed to partnering with the team to explore ways in which technology can support their performance. At the end of last year, Dimension Data introduced the Phila (meaning: “to live” in Nguni) app, which tracks the daily tracks the daily physical and mental performance of the team's 39 World Tour and Continental riders located in 10 countries. Data collected from the team includes geographical location and time zones, quality and quantity of sleep, response to training, muscle soreness, as well as mood, motivation and stress levels.

Developed by the Dimension Data’s Digital Practice, in partnership with Team Dimension Data's riders and Australia based MIK Health, Phila is also a communication and data-sharing management tool for the team.

Speaking on how technology can revolutionize and popularize a sport, Mechelle said, “Dimension Data acknowledges that as more technology is introduced into sport, the viewing experience transforms, and its popularity increases. With the extremely digital savvy millennials wanting to be immersed in any sporting event, technology innovations have to keep up with providing insights that today’s fans demand.”

Qhubeka

Qhubeka is an Nguni word that means “to carry on”, “to progress”, “to move forward”. Qhubeka believes that mobilising people with bicycles can change lives through creating access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity and Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka believes that #BicyclesChangeLives too.

With the belief that a bicycle helps connect people to basic services like schools and healthcare, as well as job opportunities, Dimension Data, under the guise ‘A Kilometer for Qhubeka’, has pledged to donate one bicycle everyday during Tour Dubai if the kilometers for the day’s race are met on two stationary bikes at the Dimension Data tent at SkyDive Dubai.

“The Qhubeka project remains at the core of our setup and the very reason why our team exists. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka provides a platform for awareness about Qhubeka and helps garner international support for the project, so that they may continue to mobilise the African people. This gives our team a greater sense of purpose and we wholeheartedly believe in the #BicyclesChangeLives campaign and it will remain a driving force behind our success,” said Mechelle. 

“We would like to invite everyone in Dubai, irrespective of their fitness levels to come down to SkyDive Dubai between February 6 – 10 and help us achieve the daily kilometer milestones, helping change the world one bicycle at a time,” said Mechelle.

Dubai Tour

The route features four flat stages and one that is tailor made for puncheurs: a summit finish at the Hatta Dam following a short and steep climb with ramps of up to 17%.