(CNN) It's eight o'clock in the morning. Kenya's elite cycling team, the "Kenyan Riders," is already hours into training.
Today's ride is five hours long over 130 kilometers. Early morning rides, sweat soaked foreheads and yoga sessions help the team keep pace with global competition.
That pain is part and parcel of a massive undertaking: becoming the first African team to qualify for the Tour de France, the pinnacle of cycling endurance.
South African team "MTN Qhubeka," now named "Dimension Data," received a wild card entry in 2015 -- which was a first for the continent. However, in the 115-year history of the iconic French road race, an all-African cycling team is yet to qualify.
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