Kenya’s Mercy Eragae celebrates after winning bronze in the women’s junior 68.8km road race during the African Road Cycling Championships in Kisumu on October 23, 2026.
Kenya’s cycling team is eager to chase more glory at the African Road Cycling Championships in Kisumu after Mercy Eragae’s breakthrough bronze medal win yesterday.
The continental show ends this weekend with the elite women’s 122.2km road race today and the elite men’s 175.2km road race tomorrow.
Mercy Eragae of Kenya during the women’s junior 68.8km road race at the African Road Cycling Championships in Kisumu on October 23, 2026. She recovered from a crash to claim bronze.
Eragae wrote history by becoming the first Kenyan to win a medal in the 19-year history of the African Championships.
Eragae claimed bronze in the women’s junior 68.8km road race despite a crash late in the race.
Kenya Cycling Federation vice-president Kelvin Mwangi believes the achievement has boosted the team’s confidence and demonstrated its potential to challenge for more podium finishes.
Cyclists representing their respective countries compete during the 2026 CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Kisumu County on October 21, 2026.
Mwangi said the result reflected the team’s intensive preparations, which have included increased race exposure for young cyclists and efforts to address weaknesses identified in previous competitions.
“The preparations have been intense. We have been training and giving the young athletes as many races as possible. We have been reviewing the mistakes we have made and working to improve on them,” said Mwangi.
He emphasised that the team was taking a gradual approach to development and expected its riders to compete for honours.
“In sports, progress happens one step at a time. You cannot skip steps or rush the process. Slowly but surely, we are beginning to see the results of our efforts,” he said.
Mwangi added that every rider representing Kenya had the potential to win a medal.
Kendra Tabu will lead Kenya’s elite women’s team alongside Monica Kiplangat, Nancy Akinyi and Dinna Kamonya in Saturday’s demanding road race.
Tabu said the team was determined to improve its performance, drawing confidence from preparations at altitude in Kaptagat and training in hot conditions.
“I train in Kaptagat, so with low altitude here in Kisumu it will be an advantage. The heat is high, but I think we will do our best,” she said.
She noted that limited access to specialised equipment had posed a challenge during the individual time trial, forcing the Kenyan riders to compete on standard road bikes rather than dedicated time-trial machines.
“The main challenge is the bike. We don’t have time-trial bikes; we have just the normal road bikes. That is a disadvantage and a challenge,” she said.
Members of Team Kenya take part in the 28km mixed relay race during the Africa Road Cycling Championships in Diani, Kwale County, on November 21 last year. The team finished seventh.
Despite the equipment limitations, Tabu remains hopeful that Kenya can deliver a stronger performance in Saturday’s road race, where the team will have another opportunity to challenge for medals.
The women’s elite and under-23 road race starts at 12.30pm.
Ivan Kipruto will lead the Kenyan charge in the elite men’s and under-23 men’s road race tomorrow.
The 20-year-old Kipruto, racing in these championships for the first time, will be joined by compatriots John Michael, Maina Muchiri, Davis Kamau and Billy Mbolo in the U-23 race.
Kenya’s representatives in the elite men’s race are Patrick Mugu, Geoffrey Waire, Evan Kimani and Peterson Wairimu.
Defending champion, Eritrea’s Merhawi Kudus, will still be the man to beat,
Kenyan women delivered encouraging performances in Wednesday’s individual time trial, with Dinna Kamonya finishing sixth over the 20.4km course in 33 minutes and 33 seconds.
Tabu finished just six seconds behind Kamonya, giving Kenya two competitive performances as the riders prepared for the longer road race.
Rwanda’s Diane Ingabire won the women’s elite individual time trial in 31 minutes and two seconds, narrowly beating Mauritius’ Aurelie Halbwachs, who clocked 31 minutes and four seconds. South Africa’s Lucy Young finished third in 31 minutes and 26 seconds.
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