Cycling: Uwizeyimana leading Team Rwanda charge in Eritrea

Sunday Top three 1. Tesfom Okubamariam (Eritrea) 2:48:24 2. Yonathan Haile (Eritrea) 2:48:24 3. Meron Teshome (Bike Aid) 2:48:30 Team Rwanda 9. Jean Claude Uwizeye 2:48:30 14. Camera Hakuzimana 2:48:30 21. Joseph Areruya 2:48:30 22. Patrick Byukusenge 2:48:30 35. Samuel Mugisha 2:53:29 38. Ephrem Tuyishme 2:58:05 Saturday 1. Micheal Habtom (Eritrea) 2:56:23 2. Adhanom Zemekael (Eritrea) 2:56:24 3. Amanuel Million (Eritrea) 2:56:24 Team Rwanda 4. Jean Claude Uwizeye 2:57:00 7. Camera Hakuzimana 2:57:03 14. Patrick Byukusenge 3:00:03 24. Joseph Areruya 3:06:16 30. Ephrem Tuyishime 3:11:19 35. Samuel Mugisha 3:12:11 Team Rwanda rider Jean Claude Uwizeye pulled off a resounding performance on Saturday to finish fourth at this year’s Fenkil Northern Red Sea Challenge before finishing 9th in Massawa Circuit on Sunday in Eritrea. Saturday’s 113km one-day race running from Foro to Ghindae, was contested by a total 45 riders including six Rwandans. The competition is part of the Eritrean race series (three) that will be followed by the 6th Annual Tour of Eritrea slated for April 19-23. Uwizeye, silver medalist at this year’s African Continental Road Championship in Morocco, finished in the fourth place out of 39, who managed to cross the finish-line; six cyclists abandoned the race along the way. Eritrea’s Micheal Habtom used 2:56:23 to win the race on an average speed of 38.4km per hour, compatriots Adhanom Zemekael (2:56:24) and Amanuel Million 2:56:24 finished second and third respectively. Uwizeye was Team Rwanda’s best performer, finishing 37 seconds off the top, Camera Hakuzimana (2:57:03) finished 7th, Patrick Byukusenge was 14th, Joseph Areruya (24th), Ephrem Tuyishime (30th) while youngster Samuel Mugisha finished on the 35th position. On Sunday, Africa’s top-ranked Tesfom Okubamariam (Eritrea) clocked 2:48:24 to win Massawa Circuit, countrymen Yonathan Haile (2:48:24) and Stradalli- Bike Aid’s Meron Teshome (2:48:30) completed top three. In a very strong sprint finish, Uwizeye finished in the 9th spot, using exactly the same time (2:48:30) as Teshome. One of the oldest cycling competitions on the continent, Tour of Eritrea’s first edition was first held in 1946 but the second one came 51 years later. The race had been for local riders until 2009 when it was opened to foreigners. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

Latest News

Cycling: Uwizeyimana leading Team Rwanda charge in Eritrea