Defending champion Henok Mulubrhan to headline 2024 African Road Cycling Championships in Kenya
The highly rated Eritrean cyclist is aiming for the top again after dominating the last two editions of the continental championships. Riders from around 20 countries are expected to compete at the African Road Cycling Championships in Eldoret from 9 to 13 October.
We know Eldoret as the capital of Kenya’s running success, but over the next five days, the city will transform into a cycling hub as some of Africa’s best converge for the 2024 African Road Cycling Championships, starting on 9 October.
In the absence of his countryman Biniam Girmay, the first Black African cyclist to win a stage in the Tour de France, two-time defending men's champion Henok Mulubrhan will lead Eritrea's charge for the men’s title on the edge of the Rift Valley, on what should be an exciting 175km course that will centre around Eldoret and the running hubs of Iten and Kapsabet.
Mulubrhan, the 2023 African cyclist of the year said in a recent exclusive interview with Olympics.com: "I didn’t plan to go there this year, I only found out a few days ago, but I wanted to go so I can win my third African title and that would be a record."
The 24-year-old rider of the Astana Qazaqstan Team added: "The African championships are one of the greatest races in Africa. You represent your country in a continental event and if you win it, you’re going to wear the jersey for the following season, like I did in the last couple of years. Plus you can earn a good amount of UCI points so it’s really nice for me to be there."
Another exciting rider from the 20-member team Eritrea is sending to Kenya is Milkias Maekele, a bright young talent emerging from the Horn of Africa nation. The 19-year-old has impressed this season with wins at Tour d'Algerie and the Grand Prix de la Ville d'Annaba, and will compete in the U23 events.
South Africa is also sending a strong team of 13, which includes two-time Olympian Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and pro-rider Callum Ormiston.
Nancy Akinyi Debe will captain the Kenyan team of 42 riders.
Teams from up to 20 countries are expected to compete in the five-day event, which will also features a mass cycling fun ride around the main host city Eldoret on 10 October.
Schedule for the 2024 African Road Cycling Championships
Wednesday 9 October
- Men elite - Individual time trial
- Men U23 - Individual time trial
- Women elite - Individual time trial
- Women U23- Individual time trial
- Men Junior - Individual time trial
Thursday 10 October
- Men elite - Team time trial mixed relay
- Women elite - Team time trial mixed relay
Friday 11 October
- Men Under 23- Individual road race
- Women junior - Individual road race
Saturday 12 October
- Women junior - Individual road race
- Women elite - Individual road race
- Men junior - Individual road race
Sunday 13 October
- Men elite - Individual road race