AFRICA ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS: HOST NATION MISSES BRONZE BY A WHISKER OF A SECOND: ALGERIA WINS GOLD

AFRICA ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS: HOST NATION MISSES BRONZE BY A WHISKER OF A SECOND: ALGERIA WINS GOLD

Ghana’s young Cycling prodigy Joseph Nii Quaye of Team Sky missed the Bronze medal by a thin thread in the Men’s Junior Road Race on Saturday in a time of 2hrs,36,26.

The in-form sprinter was not overawed in any form or shape even before hostilities, brushing off the phobic factor to squeezing himself into the aggressive bunch ,20 meters before the finish line to place an astonishing fourth position, missing his podium call by a second and got eluded by the Bronze medal.

The main event on the day encapsulated a hot distance of 82km in 7 laps , accruing an average speed of 32.22km/hr, enrolling 20 riders into the assignment on the day.

The main attraction on the day went to Algeria’s Bakhti Riad, who effected an industrious finish sprint in a time of 2hr,36,25 to win the Gold medal in this category.

Yet another Algerian,Riahi Anes completed the duo finish in same time to claim the silver medal.

El Kurymy Achraf from Morrocco claimed the third spot by a hair’s breadth of a second advantage to secure the Bronze medal.

This year’s Men Junior Road Race is a refined form of African Cycling. An exhibition of pure talent and prestige.

The bunch had to navigate a lengthy stretch of 7 laps covering 82km. And that never deterred these young riders to give out their utmost best.

The first lap was a bit friendly with the Algerians mostly in front of the peloton. By the second lap the tension the bunch had increased with occasional attacks yet again from the Algerians.

The Mauritius Team, the Ethiopians and the Rwandans were heavily present everytime an attack emerges. In the 4th lap, the intensity had changed and they peloton sped past you, you can feel the cry of the crank.

The penultimate lap became a confused version as it was difficult to tell who would win the race. The bunch was tight. Very close. No one would allow anyone to move.

But what changed the agenda in the last lap was how the entire bunch calculated the tone of the expected sprint finish.

Achraf El Kurymy, Riahi Anes and Bakhti Riad were forcing their way through. 10 more meters to finish,and the cladded bunch was still tight. Out of the blue, the witty Algerian,in a standing fashion, sprang from no where to cross finish line in gratitude. Algeria had sustained it’s dominance once again.

The Men’s Junior Road Race had produced one of the fascinating Road finishes, drawing in its fold the elation and chants from the by standers. Absolutely incredible.

This category is settled. Algeria dominates with Gold.

The Women Junior Road Race cleared a distance of 48km over 4 laps. And once again Algeria won Gold in the person Mechab Malek in 1hr,38,58.

Another Algerian Hosna Belile came through the second position winning silver in a time of 1,44,51 with Keno Disasa from Ethiopia registering her presence in Bronze with a time of 1:44,51.

Dennis Kweku Moore
Cycling Reporter Public Relations-Ghana Cycling Federation

Email: moorecycling67@gmail.com