Eritrea wins continental cycling gold

Usher Komugisha | 23 February 2016 | SUPERSPORT.COM

Eritrea won the men’s elite team time trial gold for a record sixth consecutive time on Monday at the ongoing Africa continental cycling championships in Morocco.

The defending champions led by Team Dimension Data new signing Mekseb Debesay inspired the trio of Tesfom Okubamariam, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier and Elyas Afewerki as they covered the 59km distance in Benslimane in 1:15:07.53, 58.18 seconds ahead of second-placed Algeria.

Debesay said, “This is a great moment for our country because it is not easy to win six years in a row. We are very pleased with our performance.”

Morocco finished third 1:02.38 behind the winners while Ethiopia and Rwanda settled for fourth and fifth respectively 1:26.02 and 2:29.99 in that order in the event that attracted 11 participating countries.

Men’s Elite TTT top 10

1. Eritrea 1:15:07.53
2. Algeria 1:16:05.71
3. Morocco 1:16:09.91
4. Ethiopia 1:16:33.55
5. Rwanda 1:17:37.52
6. Egypt 1:20:29.97
7. Tunisia 1:21:44.67
8. Angola 1:21:54.27
9. Burkina Faso 1:22:41.32
10. Gabon 1:26:17.62
11. Ghana 1:35:06:52