Tuesday

Junior Men Scratch – 10km

1. Mohamed Medrazi (Mor)

2. Eric Jean Habimana (Rwa)

3. Stephen Belle (Sey)

Sixteen-year old Eric Jean Habimana has made history at the ongoing 2017 African Continental Track Championships in Durban, South Africa, winning silver on Rwanda’s debut in track cycling.

The youngster has been in South Africa for 10 days where he flew on March 10 along with his compatriot Didier Munyaneza and retired cyclist Nathan Byukusenge, who went to attend a coaching clinic on track cycling.

The coaching clinic started on March 10 and will run until March 26 at the World Cycling Centre Africa (WCC Africa) in Potchefstroom.

Habimana and Munyaneza, the first Rwandans to undertake special training in track cycling, were given the opportunity to compete at this year’s African Continental Track Cycling Championships (March 20-24) at the Cyril Geoghegan Velodrome in Durban.

Competing in the 10 kilometers junior men scratch, Morocco’s Mohamed Medrazi took the title, while debutant Hambimana came second and Seychelles’ Stephen Belle finished in third place.

Meanwhile on a sad note, on day one (Monday), the continental show piece was hit by the tragic death of Egyptian cyclist Eslam Nasser Zaki, who died in action.

The incident took place during the Elite Men’s Omnium-Tempo race. According to reports, Zaki was riding on his own when he suddenly fell off his bicycle.

The medics were on hand immediately to render emergency medical assistance, but after prolonged attempts to resuscitate him, 22-year-old was pronounced dead.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw