Teklehaimanot wins elite title for Eritrea
Teklehaimanot also claims U23 title
Rising Eritrean star Daniel Teklehaimanot completed a hat-trick at the 2010 African Continental Championships with victory in the road race in Kigali, Rwanda. Together with the individual and team time trials, he has now won three races - and five African Champion’s jerseys, including the U23 titles. Last but not least, he secured Eritrea's qualification for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. His country dominated the road race with Meron Russom finishing second, and five riders finishing in the top 10.
Two baroudeurs undertook a 55km breakaway early on: Algerian Abdelmalek Madani and local young talent Gasore Hategeka, who was forced to give his bike to his leader Adrian Niyonshuti when he broke his chain with four laps to go. The Rwandan team pleased the massive crowd on the streets of the capital through their attacking riding, but Niyonshuti was ultimately disappointed to finish eight.
The 144km race, perfect for climbers and puncheurs, exploded at the 106km mark when a 12-rider group went clear containing five Eritreans (Daniel Teklehaimanot, Meron Russom, Araya Medhin Dawit Haile, Tesfai Teklit, Teweldemedhin Natnel Berhane) and the main favourites: Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (South Africa), Dan Craven (Namibia), Adil Jelloul (Morocco), Adrien Nyonshuti (Rwanda), Estifanos Gebresilassie and Sollomon Bittew Shiferaw (Ethiopia) and Azzedine Lagab (Algeria).
With one lap to go, Teklehaimanot launched an attack and opened up an advantage that reached 28 seconds by the finish. “I told the other riders, ‘You can't let him go’ but we all were tired and there were so many Eritrean riders in the group that I decided myself to focus on second place in order to qualify for the Olympics,” Craven said.
The 2009 African Continental Champion finished third in the race, beaten in the sprint by a Teklehaimanot's team-mate, Russom, who continued his improvement in the event. He finished 11th in 2007 and 4th in 2008, although he didn't start last year as his national tour took place at the same time as the Continental Championships.
Teklehaimanot received an intense ovation from the public. “I waited until the last part of the race to go in front, because some nations like Morocco or South Africa were watching me closely,” he said. “This win makes me very happy and I'm proud to help my country qualify for the Olympics.”
Because of a misunderstanding, Teklehaimanot went to Beijing in 2008 but ultimately didn’t ride as Erythrea was not allowed to participate. His success in the 2010 African Continental Championships underlines he's one of the top athletes on the continent. Despite six crashes at the end of the season, he finished in 46th at the Châteauroux Classic de l'Indre as a stagiaire for Cervélo Test Team.
The 22-year-old Teklehaimanot is still looking for a professional contract next year. His last race of the season will be the Tour of Rwanda, a UCI 2.2 event, from November 17-25.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) | 3:54:06 |
2 | Meron Russom (Eri) | 0:00:28 |
3 | Dan Craven (Nam) | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Adil Jelloul (Mar) | 0:01:14 |
5 | Araya Medhin Dawit Haile (Eri) | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Azzedine Lagab (Alg) | 0:01:31 |
7 | Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Teweldemedhin Natnael Berhane (Eri) | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Abdelati Saadoune (Mar) | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Tesfai Teklit (Eri) | 0:01:55 |
12 | Paul Agorir (Ken) | 0:01:59 |
13 | Hichem Chabane (Alg) | 0:02:57 |
14 | Estifanos Gebresilassie (Eth) | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Gabriel Combrinck (RSA) | 0:03:33 |
16 | Sollomon Bittew Shiferaw (Eth) | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Issiaka Fofana (CIv) | 0:08:09 |
18 | Fathi Ahmed Atunsi (Lba) | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Frekalsi Debesai (Eri) | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Gasore Hategeka (Rwa) | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Nathan Byukusenge (Rwa) | 0:14:45 |
22 | Emmanuel Rudahunga (Rwa) | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Suliman Kangangi (Ken) | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Issiaka Cisse (CIv) | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Goton Mebrahtu Biru (Eth) | 0:14:49 |
26 | Abderahmane Bourraza (Alg) | 0:16:52 |
27 | Innocent Uwamungu (Rwa) | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | David Matovu (Uga) | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Songezo Jim (RSA) | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Raoul Herve Mbah (Cmr) | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Noufou Minougou (Bur) | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Obed Ruvogera (Rwa) | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Med Said El Ammoury (Mar) | 0:18:37 |
34 | Ahmed Youssef Belgasem (Lba) | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Peter Loriko (Ken) | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Amr Mahmoud Ahmed Mohamed (Egy) | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Dieunedort Simo Sando (Cmr) | 0:21:37 |
DNS | Bassirou Konte (CIv) | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Robert Fotsing Dassie (Cmr) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jasson Bakke (RSA) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Luthando Kaka (RSA) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nicodem Habiyambere (Rwa) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jean De Dieu Uwimana (Rwa) | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Abdelbasset Hanachi (Alg) | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Abdelmalek Madani (Alg) | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Youcef Reguigui (Alg) | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Bilel Saada (Alg) | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Redouane Chabane (Alg) | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Rasmané Ouedraogo (Bur) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Abdul Aziz Nikiema (Bur) | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Etienne Tarbagdo (Bur) | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Oumarou Minougou (Bur) | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Bolotigui Ouattara (CIv) | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ben Zakaria Fofana (CIv) | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mamadou Coulibaly (CIv) | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ibrahim James Yousef (Egy) | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mohamed Saad Abou Hegazy (Egy) | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eddin Asran Osamahussam (Egy) | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ali Al-Sayed Ali Abdullah (Egy) | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mahmoud Mohamed Alaa Eddin (Egy) | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Msgena Kindeya (Eth) | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tsgabu Gebremaryam Grmay (Eth) | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yirga Woldemaria Kinfe (Eth) | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Samuel Anim (Gha) | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Henry Tetteh Djangmah (Gha) | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Aminu Mohammed (Gha) | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nuru Alhassan Pardie (Gha) | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yannick Lincoln (Mri) | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
DNF | John Njoroge (Ken) | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kipchumba Benjamin Kogo (Ken) | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Samuel Mwangi (Ken) | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ahmed Mohamed Abdalla (Lba) | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Faysal Alsharaa (Lba) | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Amin Abdelrazag Alkilani (Lba) | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mohamed Ali Almabruk (Lba) | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lotto Petrus (Nam) | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Victor Krohne (Nam) | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ingram Cuff (Nam) | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
DNF | George William Kisenyi (Uga) | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Robert Kiwendo (Uga) | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Brigt Sam Muwonge (Uga) | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sebastian Kigongo Semakula (Uga) | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Edward Bukenya (Uga) | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Muzamir Wavamuno (Uga) | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Francis Louis (Sey) | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Andy Rose (Sey) | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Edward Pothin (Sey) | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Chris Germain (Sey) | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
DNF | James Bristol (Sey) | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Simon Brierley (Sey) | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Obert Chembe (Zam) | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Trust Munangandu (Zam) | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
DNF | David Martin (Zim) | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Bright Chipongo (Zim) | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Glenn Morgan (Zim) | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mouhssine Lahsaini (Mar) | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tarik Chaoufi (Mar) | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Adnane Arbia (Mar) | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Martinien Tega (Cmr) | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sah Noel Tanessop (Cmr) | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Robert Tawedi Modi (Cmr) | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jean Marie Nshimirimana (Bdi) | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jean Marie Ndayikengurukiye (Bdi) | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Juvenal Nduwimana (Bdi) | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ladislas Ncamugwanko (Bdi) | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) | 3:54:06 |
2 | Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) | 0:01:31 |
3 | Teweldemed Natnael Berhane (Eri) | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Tesfai Teklit (Eri) | 0:01:55 |
5 | Hichem Chabane (Alg) | 0:02:57 |
6 | Estifanos Gebresilassie (Eth) | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Emmanuel Rudahunga (Rwa) | 0:14:45 |
8 | Suliman Kangangi (Ken) | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Issiaka Cisse (CIv) | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Innocent Uwamungu (Rwa) | 0:16:52 |
11 | Songezo Jim (RSA) | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Raoul Herve Mbah (Cmr) | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Noufou Minougou (Bur) | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
2025 Tour of the Alps includes 14,700m of climbing in just 739km and five days of racing
Route revealed in front of Christian Prudhomme and UCI President David Lappartient -
The 2025 UCI calendar could have a major gap as two February races are in doubt
Tour Colombia facing budget hurdles, could face cancellation, adding to potential absence of Volta a Valenciana -
Maxim Van Gils' contract battle with Lotto Dstny pushes pro cycling towards a football-style transfer market system
'Soon, a contract will no longer mean anything' team managers tells RTBF -
American Criterium Cup juggles eight-race US calendar for fourth edition in 2025
Racing begins June 6 at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough, with remaining schedule zig-zagging across central US