http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/09/s...ot-tour-de-france-polka-dot-jersey/index.html
Tour de France 2015: Daniel Teklehaimanot makes history for Africa
Chris Borg, for CNN
Updated 1853 GMT (0153 HKT) July 9, 2015
Daniel Teklehaimanot of Eritrea and MTN-Qhubeka celebrates as he is awarded the polka-dot jersey.
(CNN)He has already made Tour de France history as one of the first African-registered team ever to take part in the event -- and now Daniel Teklehaimanot has pedaled past another major milestone.
On Thursday, Teklehaimanot became the first African to don the polka-dot jersey awarded to the race's leading climber, his team said.
The 26-year-old MTN-Qhubeka rider gave the thumbs-up after earning a third point in the King of the Mountains classification to take the jersey from Joaquim Rodriguez, who dropped a point behind him.
Colleagues on the Eritrean's team were quick to voice their congratulations on Twitter, writing: "Lost for words right now... Battling to see what's going on through the tears. Dream come true to have the polka-dot jersey!"
Teklehaimanot's achievement came when a sprint ride at the Cote du Tilleul saw him cross in first place on the final category four climb of the day.
"I'm really happy about what happened today. I can't believe it," he told the official Tour de France website.
"That was my childhood dream, to get the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France. I was excited about having it just for one day.
"After I scored two points, I was nervous that I wouldn't take one more, otherwise I would be left with nothing."
Tour de France 2015: Daniel Teklehaimanot makes history for Africa
Chris Borg, for CNN
Updated 1853 GMT (0153 HKT) July 9, 2015
Daniel Teklehaimanot of Eritrea and MTN-Qhubeka celebrates as he is awarded the polka-dot jersey.
(CNN)He has already made Tour de France history as one of the first African-registered team ever to take part in the event -- and now Daniel Teklehaimanot has pedaled past another major milestone.
On Thursday, Teklehaimanot became the first African to don the polka-dot jersey awarded to the race's leading climber, his team said.
The 26-year-old MTN-Qhubeka rider gave the thumbs-up after earning a third point in the King of the Mountains classification to take the jersey from Joaquim Rodriguez, who dropped a point behind him.
Colleagues on the Eritrean's team were quick to voice their congratulations on Twitter, writing: "Lost for words right now... Battling to see what's going on through the tears. Dream come true to have the polka-dot jersey!"
Teklehaimanot's achievement came when a sprint ride at the Cote du Tilleul saw him cross in first place on the final category four climb of the day.
"I'm really happy about what happened today. I can't believe it," he told the official Tour de France website.
"That was my childhood dream, to get the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France. I was excited about having it just for one day.
"After I scored two points, I was nervous that I wouldn't take one more, otherwise I would be left with nothing."
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