Kenya will for the second year in row host the Africa Cycling Championships.
The continental road racing showdown will be held in Kwale from November 19-22.
The secretary of Kenya Cycling Federation (KCF) Charles Mose revealed yesterday that they had held talks with the President of the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC), Yao Jean-Marie Allah-Kouamé, who requested Kenya to step in and host this year's continental event following the last-minute withdrawal of Congo Brazzaville.
“Without a replacement, CAC requested us to step in on the strength of having come second to Congo in the bidding process last February, and the success of last year's Africa Cycling Championships in Eldoret, hailed as the best, thanks to the government and Uasin Gishu's input of closing most streets of Eldoret and financial support," said Mose
The KCF board held talks on Tuesday with the Sports CS Salim Murya to take up the offer as an opportunity to give more Kenyans a chance to compete and seek Los Angeles qualifying standards and 2026 Commonwealth Games, as Kenya will be given more slots by virtue of being the host.
"The government has tentatively agreed for us to host the championship, and we are following the due process as CAC will also give us technical and many other forms of support,”said Mose.
“So it is not much of a problem once we sort out the logistics and operational costs as we wait for the government's commitment and communication to CAC. We have already identified Kwale as the venue of the championships, where roads are plentiful and an enthusiastic county government.”
The Eldoret championships attracted some of Africa’s best riders and the gap between them and Kenyans, who have always struggled to make an impact in cycling showed
South Africa's Ashleigh Moolman Pasio won the women's elite road race, while Eritrea's Henok Mulubrhan won the men's elite road race..
Other winners were Uganda's Charles Kagimu (Time Trial) and Eritrea's Nardos Tsegay (Junior Women) and Keven Teklemariam (Junior Men).
