Nine Dar cyclists in Africa tourney

Nine Dar cyclists in Africa tourney

Confederation of African Cycling (CAC)

Nine Tanzanian cyclists are expected to be in action at the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) sanctioned continental championships in Durban today.

 

 The leader of delegation who is also Cycling Association of Tanzania  (CHABATA) chairman Geoffrey Muhagama said in a telephone interview that cyclists will compete in team trial for elite men and women, 48 and 42 kilometres, respectively.

 

Tanzania is represented by cyclists namely Gerald Konda, Masunga Dumba, Emmanuel Philemon, Hussein Makala, Maratha Antony, Ayubu Dickson ,Hamisi Hatali, Richard Laizer and Sophia Hussein.

 

‘We arrived here very safely and tomorrow (today) our cyclists will be in action, I am very sure we will perform well because we have come with cyclists who are very determined to compete and bring home medals,’ he said.

 

He said the team will rest tomorrow before competing on Wednesday where it will be for individuals 48 kilometres for women and 61 for men. The Tanzanian cyclists will finish the event on Friday when 104 kilometre elite women race and 161 km for men.

 

Muhagama said the championship has   attracted riders from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Eritrea, Morocco, Burundi, host South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Algeria, Rwanda and Egypt.

 

He said Tanzania is using the championships to gear up for the forthcoming All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville in September and other international events.

 

‘This will be the second continental championship outing for the national side that strives through thick and thin to make the sport what it is today. We are using this event to prepare for international events which Tanzania will compete this year,’ he said. 

 

 He also said he is happy that for the first time the country has managed to send two female cyclists (Sophia Hussein and Maratha Anthony) to an international event.

 

The CHABATA official said the criteria for selection of the cyclists for the championships were based on current form guide, consistency in local and international events, power training and discipline.

 

‘The steady improvement of the national team cyclists was evident at Egypt championships where the team went for the first time. With the huge presence of intimidating cyclists from top cycling nations, our riders were able to close up the gap,’ he said.

 

The Tanzania team has been  kindly  and massively supported by Augusta Energy and Acacia Mining (formerly known as Barrick Gold).