Over 300 riders fight for 2025 Road Cycling Africa Champs glory in Diani

Over 300 cyclists from 30 nations will face off at the 19th edition of Confederation of Africa Cycling (CAC) Road Cycling Africa Championships to be flagged off on Thursday in Diani, Kwale County.

The four-day championships will run until Sunday with top riders chasing the pink and white jerseys reserved for continental champions.

Kenya is hosting the event for the second year running after organizing last year’s edition dominated by Eritrea and South Africa in Eldoret and Iten.

CAC President Dr Yao Allan Kouame said they had to come to Kenya again because of the nation’s good hospitality and organizational acumen.

“Last year, we were in Eldoret and this year, we are here, something that has never happened - a nation hosting the continental championships twice in a row - but we had to come back because of hospitality and we pay gratitude to Kenyans,” the CAC President said.

“This is the first time we are having the biggest contingent from 30 countries with 316 cyclists to tackle to road over the four days,” he added.

Kouame noted that it was remarkable that CAC are organizing an event after the month of October, which is unusual because they normally complete their calendar before October.

“This shows that there is something good and special about Kenya that we must learn. All African countries that are here feel free and enjoy the championships. Last year, we had good names and we hope this year if the winners will maintain their positions and new champions will be born too,” the Ivorian said, adding that it was a great deal for the UCI (Internatiobnal Cycling Union) to give them the nod to host the event after the cycling season had ended.

“I also thank the Kenya Cycling Federation for giving us this opportunity and all Kenyans for the good organization. All the cyclists are here to have a good time,” said Kouame.

The competition’s director Christophe Impens, who is also the Cycling Director at event organisers Golazo, warned competing cyclists to be “ready for a tough competition.”

He admitted that Kenya accepted the host the championships after the continental body failed to secure a nation to host this year’s edition.

“We are here again for the second year in a row and it wasn’t easy to get a nation to host the championships. We had discussions with the minister (Salim Mvurya) to come back to Kenya and he agreed, and that is why we are here,” he said.

“The toughest event will be on Saturday and Sunday where elites and junior will be riding all the way from Diani to Kwale. With interest in cycling growing in Africa after the UCI World Championships in Rwanda (last September) that opened the eyes of the world, we urge young men and women to take a bike and ride seriously,” implored Impens.

He also urged the host nation’s cyclists to emulate Kenya’s record-breaking distance runners.

“The Kenyan leadership has given us this big event that we have only taken six weeks to organise, which is tough. We also have to tell the citizens that the roads have to be closed to make sure that we have safe races in the four days,” he added.

At the same time, National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) President Shadrack Maluki has promised to qualify at least 12 disciplines for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA, including cycling.

Maluki said they are working smart with various federations to ensure they achieve their target.

“As NOC-K, we are proud to be associated with Kenya Cycling Federation and cycling is close to our heart. At the last Olympics in Paris, we were represented in six disciplines and we anticipate increasing the disciplines and send more than 12 to the Olympics in 2028,” said Maluki.

This weekend’s championships start with the junior women’s and junior men’s individual time trial at 8am and 10.25am on Thursday where the riders will race against the clock over 14 kilometres.

This will be followed by the time trials for the elite men and women and also riders aged under 23 years, also over 14 kilometres.

Thursday, November 20:

-           08:40hrs: Individual Time Trial (junior women, 14km):

-           10:25hrs: Individual Time Trial (junior men, 14km);

-           13:00hrs: Individual Time Trial (Elite women and under-23, 14km);

-           15:30hrs: Individual Time Trial (Elite men and under-23, 14km);

-           09:00hrs: Mixed Relay (elite men, under-23 men; Elite women; under-23 women);

-           11:30hrs: Road Race (junior women, 64.5km);

-           15:40hrs: Road Race (youth men, 42km);

-           15:43hrs: Road Race (youth women, 28km);

-           09:00hrs – 11:00hrs: Local fun event (14km);

-           13:30hrs: Road Race (women elite, under-23 women, 107.6km);

-           08:00hrs: Road Race (junior men, 107.6km);

-           13:00hrs: Road Race (men elite, under-23, 163.8km)