By TesfaNews,
The 7th African Continental Cycling Championship will officially kick off today (Tuesday, 8th) in the evening hours at the Asmara Palace Hotel in the Eritrean capital.
In the expected colorful opening ceremony, guests of honors like the UCI president Mr. Pat McQuaid, the African Cycling Confederation (CAC) president, Dr. Waggih Azzam and UCI delegate to Africa and director of UCI Continental Center in South Africa Mr. Jean-Pierre are expected to attend.
Eritreans Daniel Teklehaimanot and Natnael Berhane’s coach at the World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Switzerland, Mr. Michel Thèze will also present on his first time trip to Eritrea.
In this edition of the competition that lasts until November 13, Women and Men riders from the continents dominant countries like Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Namibia and Morocco along with Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ghana and the host Eritrea are expected to participate.
Eritrea’s quest will be spearheaded by the strong ten men young riders comprised of Daniel Teklehaimanot, Natnael Berhane, Dawit Haile, Frekalsi Debessay,Yonathan Mesfun, Berhane Melake, Meron Russom, Jani Tewolde, Tesfay Abrha, and Michael Tikue.
Last year’s winner and African champion, Daniel Teklehaimanot, remains the odds-on favorite to win this edition of the championship.
Teklehaimanot stormed to the title after edging his compatriot Meron Russom and Namibia’s Dan Craven.
Teklehaimanot also clocked 44:37 to win the individual time trial (ITT) ahead of South Africa’s Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg and Azzedine Lagab of Algeria.
Team Eritrea vowed to repeat last year’s title especially at a time when their country Eritrea sponsored this year competition for the first time in its history.
The events will start tomorrow (Wednesday) with the Team Time Trial (TTT), Friday Individual Time Trial (ITT) and Sunday the Road Race.
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2011 African Continental Championships Asmara, Eritrea 8-13 November 2011
SCHEDULES
- Tuesday 8th November
– Confirmation of the starters
– Team Manager’s Meeting
- Wednesday 9th November
– Team Time Trial (TTT)
Men Eilite and U23 ( 2 laps of 18km = 36km )
- Thursday 10th November
– Confirmation of the starters
– Team Manager’s Meeting
- Friday 11th November
– Individual Time Trials (ITT)
– Women elite ( 1 lap = 18 km )
– Men Elite and U23 (2 laps of 18km = 36 km)
- Saturday 12th November
– UCI Africa Tour Conference
- Sunday 13th November
– Road Races
– Women Elite (6 laps of 10.45km = 62.7 km)
– Men Elite and U23 (14 laps of 10.45km = 146.3 km)
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