Teklehaimanot targets Tour de France stage wins in 2016

After spending four stages in the Tour de France polka-dot jersey in 2015, Daniel Teklehaimanot is targeting a stage win for Dimension Data next year.

The Ertirean rider flourished in the early stages of the latest edition of the Grand Tour, becoming the first African to hold the mountains classification lead from stage six all the way to the end of stage nine.

His performances for MTN-Qhubeka – who have since become Dimension Data – established his place as a star of the future and someone who could challenge for the mountains classification title.

However, the 27-year-old has got even loftier ambitions as he prepares for a new year as part of a WorldTour team.

"I was really happy this year with my performance, and I'd like to be able to do something again next year," he told Cyclingnews.

"I hope that I can do more. I can't say if it will be as good as this year, but I would like to be stronger.

"I would like to do well in the middle of the season, I need to be strong everywhere, but I would like to win a stage of the Tour or the Vuelta.

"In the past, I was in a WorldTour team [Orica-GreenEdge], and it was a really busy programme. Now I would like to think that I can survive in the WorldTour races and maybe win some big races."