Rwanda wins third medal at African Cycling Championship

It was yet another delightful moment as Team Rwanda's Jean-Claude Uwizeye claimed silver medal in U23 category of the men’s major road race on Saturday evening at the just concluded African Cycling Championship in Morocco.

Friday, February 26, 2016
Uwizeye (left with Rwandan flag) shows off his silver medal. (Courtesy)

General Classification

1. Tesfom Okubamariam (Eritrea) 04:06:462. Youcef Ruguigui (Algeria) 04:06:463. Bedesay Mekseb (Eritrea) 04:06:46

U23 Category

1. Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Algeria) 04:06:462. Jean-Claude Uwizeye (Rwanda) 04:06:483. Nassim Saidi (Algeria) 04:07:06

Team Rwanda

8. Jean-Claude wizeye 04:06:4811. Bonaventure Uwizeyimana 04:46:5214. Joseph Areruya 04:07:0816. Joseph Biziyaremye 04:07:1132. Patrick Byukusenge 04:14:2846. Valens Ndayisenga 04:21:1848. Jeremie Karegeya 04:21:18

It was yet another delightful moment as Team Rwanda's Jean-Claude Uwizeye claimed silver medal in U23 category of the men’s major road race on Saturday evening at the just concluded African Cycling Championship in Morocco.

This year’s edition of the annual Continental Road Championship started on February 21 in Casablanca, Morocco’s capital.

Uwizeye won silver medal after using 4 hours, 6 minutes and 48 seconds, two seconds behind gold medalist Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier of Eritrea. Algeria’s Saidi Nassim used 04:47:06 to win bronze.

Uwizeye's triumph was Rwanda’s third medal at the multi-category showpiece following the gold medal by Valens Ndayisenga in Men’s U23 individual time trial on Wednesday and Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu’s silver in women’s individual time trial on Tuesday.

Generally, the week-long continental competition was dominated by Eritrea with five riders in the top ten including gold medal winner, Tesfom Okubamariam, who successfully retained the title, having won it last year in South Africa.

From Morocco, Team Rwanda shifts focus on the upcoming Grand Cycling Tour of Algeria, slated for March 4-28.