Eritrea extended its golden streak on the third day of the African Continental Road Cycling Championships Junior Road Races, dominating both the men’s and women’s events.
In the women’s race, with ten countries competing for the top spot, the Eritrean team set the pace for most of the day, with all four of their riders working together at the front. The team aimed to leverage their strength in numbers, making the race difficult on the climbs as they left town. Despite several attacks throughout the race, none proved decisive.
One of the best breakaway attempts occurred with a few laps to go when Ugandan Nakato Kevin joined two Eritreans. However, the group was reeled back in as South Africans and Ethiopians led the chase. Even after six tough climbs, riders like South Africa’s Silke Bester, Uganda’s Nantume Miria, and Congo’s Muntumba Martiny stayed in the mix.
In the final kilometer, the race came down to a fierce sprint, led by Eritrea’s Nardos Tsegay, who crossed the finish line first, securing the 2024 African Junior Road Championship. “Plan A was to sprint up the hill so that we gain some distance coming into the finish,” Tsegay explained in a post-race interview.
The men’s road race kicked off at midday under scorching heat, with 99 kilometers ahead for the under-18 category. South Africa’s Matthew Symm made an early bold move, breaking away with three Eritreans — Effriem Nahom, Siem Eyob, and Keven Teklemariam. The Eritrean riders launched continuous attacks until Symm dropped back to work with his teammates in the peloton.
The gap between the leading group and the chasing pack reached over two and a quarter minutes at its peak, though the South Africans managed to cut it down to one and a half minutes. Despite their efforts, the Eritreans maintained their lead in the final 10 kilometers and fought for victory among themselves. Keven Teklemariam out-sprinted his teammates, winning the race and securing an Eritrean 1-2-3 finish, capping off another triumphant day for the team.
Eritrea has been dominant in the junior category throughout the week, a performance their senior riders will aim to replicate during the weekend races. Catch the women’s U23 and Elite Road Race live on Citizen TV this Saturday at noon, covering the route from Eldoret to Iten.
