Over the next five days, the city of Eldoret in Kenya is set to transform into a cycling hub as some of the world’s best cyclists will converge for the 2024 African Road Cycling Championships, starting on 9 October.
Teams from up to 20 countries from the continent of Africa are expected to compete in the five-day event, which will also feature a mass cycling fun ride around the main host city Eldoret on 10 October. The events will be hosted in Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet.
African Road Cycling Championships 2024: Preview
The African Road Cycling Championships are for under-23, junior and Elite riders, both women and men. The events include a road race, a Team Time Trial Mixed Relay and an individual time trial, with women’s events shorter than men’s and junior’s events shorter than under-23’s.
While Junior women will compete in the 11.2km circuit within Eldoret City, the male juniors and women U23s and Elites will cover 22.4km. The U23 men and elite will cover 33.8km.
Women will race out on a challenging 104km parkour starting in Eldoret and finishing in Iten. The men will compete on a similar route, but instead take two tours of the long loop for a total of 157km.
This is the first time the African Road Cycling Championships will be held in Kenya. The previous edition took place in Ghana
The riders participating in the championships are selected by their national cycling federation. The winners are entitled to wear the African Champion’s jersey when racing throughout the year.
African Road Cycling Championships 2024: Top Contenders
Two-time defending men’s champion Henok Mulubrhan will headline team Eritrea’s for the men’s title on the edge of the Rift Valley, on what should be an exciting course that will centre around Eldoret and the running hubs of Iten and Kapsabet.
South Africa is also putting up a strong contingent of 13 riders, which includes two-time Olympian Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and pro-rider Callum Ormiston.
Nancy Akinyi Debe will serve as captain of the Kenyan team which consists of 42 riders.
Also Read: Il Lombardia 2024: Key Tests That Await Cyclists
African Road Cycling Championships 2024: Schedule
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
