The continental showdown will traverse across Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties starting from October 9-13 in Eldoret City.
Kenya is fronting 42 cyclists to compete at this year’s African Road Cycling championship. Nandi, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties are all set and prepared to host this continental cycling showpiece.
Elite cyclist Nancy Akinyi Debe will captain team Kenya. Captain Akinyi expressed much confidence in Team Kenya their potential to perform well in the championship.
Official Launch by Sports CS
Speaking during the official launch on Friday, Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen (pictured holding the bike) said Eldoret City will act as finishing point for the event.
“As we broaden our participation in the global sports disciplines. It’s important to note that Kenya did not present any cycling to the Paris 2024 Olympics, except for one Paralympics. This indicates the need for a most strategic focus on developing our cycling talent to compete globally.”
The Cabinet Secretary welcomed the opportunity for Kenya to host Africa’s most prestigious cycling event, “By hosting this prestigious championship, Kenya is once again reaffirming its status as a sporting powerhouse on the continent, not just in athletics, it’s a chance to showcase our ability to host big events, ahead of the CHAN 2025 and AFCON 2027 Championships” CS Murkomen added.
Statement By Kenya Cycling Federation CEO
Kenya Cycling Federation CEO Kelvin Mwangi says it’s all systems go, assuring the country that preparations are complete and Team Kenya is ready for the competition.
“The stage is set for the showdown. Everything has been well organized, and excitement is building as we look forward to hosting this prestigious event,” Mwangi said.
The federation boss stated that the team is eager to compete and had been training in Murang’a, he further expressed confidence and the team’s abilities to win medals for the country.
“The team has been training in Murang’a for some time and they are excited and ready to take on the world. They believe in themselves and this has seen them harvest many medals,” he said.
The federation boss pointed that the African Road Cycling event is indicating a promising future and an important milestone for the Kenya cycling community.
“The sport is growing rapidly, and being entrusted with the opportunity to host this championship reflects that we are on the right track, paving the way for even greater achievements.”
He added that Eldoret City’s attractive climate and well-developed road network can unlock a tremendous cycling culture in the region.
Tour de France Champion and Top African Cyclist Confirms Attendance
Tour de France 2024 Green Jersey champion Biniam Girmay will feature in a strong lineup from the Eritrean team, Girmay made history after becoming the first Black African to win a stage and green jersey best sprinter.
The competition is expected to attract more than 20 countries.
” Top African cyclist Biniam Girmay has already confirmed he will race and so it will be an exciting event. We’ve also identified the roads that will be used and police are aware and everything will be in place before and during the event.
We urge Kenyans to come out in large numbers and enjoy cycling. It’s one of the best sports and so we need to encourage more people to take up,” Mwangi told Citizen TV.
Time Trials and Headline Events
The time trials will kick off on October 9th, 2024 as well as the Junior category, Under-23, and Elite races for both men and women.
The adrenaline rush Mixed Relay Time Trial will be held on 10th October with the junior road races taking place the next day.
The junior women will race once and cover a distance of 11.2km loop around Eldoret City, while the junior males, women U-23 category, and Elites cover the same circuit twice around the city.
The men’s U-23 and elite races will cover a total of 33.8km and raced over three laps. The main events will be raced over the weekend. The women U23 and Elite Road races will be held on Saturday, while the male U-23 and elites will hit the road on Sunday, October 13th.
The men will battle it out on a challenging terrain spanning 157km while the ladies cover 104km of the parkour countryside, both races starting in Eldoret City and finishing in Iten.
This is the first time Kenya is hosting the continental cycling championship. The 2023 edition was held in Ghana.
