Eritrea showcased its cycling dominance on the third day of the African Continental Road Cycling Championships, clinching victory in both the men’s and women’s junior road races, further solidifying their golden streak this week.
In the women’s race, which saw competitors from ten nations battling for glory, Eritrea set the pace throughout. All four of their riders worked collectively at the front of the pack, demonstrating their well-coordinated strategy.
The East African team’s plan was to use their numerical advantage to push the tempo on the climbs just after leaving town. Despite multiple attempts by rival nations to break away, none succeeded in escaping the Eritrean control.
One of the most notable breakaway efforts came when Ugandan rider Nakato Kevin joined two Eritrean cyclists with just a few laps remaining. However, the South African and Ethiopian teams regrouped to close the gap.
Despite tackling the climb six times, challengers such as South Africa’s Silke Bester, Uganda’s Nantume Miria, and Congo’s Muntumba Martiny remained part of the leading group.
The final kilometer saw an intense sprint, led by Eritrea’s Nardos Tsegay, who emerged victorious, claiming the title of 2024 African Junior Road Champion.
“Our strategy was to power up the hill to create separation as we approached the finish,” Tsegay shared in a post-race interview.
The men’s race kicked off at midday under scorching heat, with 99 kilometers ahead of the under-18 cyclists.
South Africa’s Matthew Symm made a bold move early in the race, forming a breakaway group alongside three Eritrean riders—Effriem Nahom, Siem Eyob, and Keven Teklemariam.
The Eritreans launched a series of attacks, prompting Symm to drop back and join his teammates in the peloton. Although the breakaway’s lead reached over two minutes, the South Africans managed to reduce it to just under a minute and a half.
However, Eritrea’s advantage held firm, and they entered the final 10 kilometers with a strong lead. In the closing sprint, Keven Teklemariam outpaced his teammates to claim the victory, securing an Eritrean 1-2-3 podium finish, adding another gold medal for the nation.
Eritrea has been the standout nation in the junior categories this week, and their senior riders will be aiming to replicate these results during the upcoming weekend races.