The Kenya Cycling Federation is set to hold a national selection event this weekend in Kabati, Murang’a County, as cyclists battle for places in the team that will represent Kenya at the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Kisumu from October 21-25. The trials will feature elite men’s and women’s races over 85km and 65km respectively, as well as the Under-23 men’s 85km and women’s 65km races. Youth and junior categories will also compete in shorter distances.
According to Jackline Wairimu, the organiser of the trials, the federation will select the top 10 riders in each category to form the national team. The selection event is open to all cyclists across the country, allowing riders to fight for national team places. Wairimu expressed confidence in the preparations, stating that the federation has put in place all necessary measures to select a strong Team Kenya.
The trials will feature various categories, including elite men’s and women’s races over 85km and 65km, Under-23 men’s 85km and women’s 65km, youth boys and girls over 35km, and junior boys and girls over 40km. The selection event aims to identify the best cyclists to represent Kenya at the continental championships.
Preparations for the trials are complete, with organisers conducting a reconnaissance of the course ahead of the races. Safety will be a major priority, with the organisers working with local authorities and traffic police to protect riders during the races. The federation has been working closely with the county government and traffic police to ensure a smooth and safe event.
The Kisumu championships will be Kenya’s third consecutive staging of the continental road cycling showpiece, following editions held in Eldoret in 2024 and Kwale County in 2025. The five-day championships will begin on October 21 with the Individual Time Trial, followed by the mixed relay and youth races.
The championships will feature various events, including junior races, a mass fun/social ride, and elite men’s and U23 races. The event will conclude on October 25 with the elite men’s and U23 races. Previous editions have seen Eritrea’s Henok Mulubrhan and Merhawi Kudus win the elite men’s race, while South Africa’s Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and Hayley Preen claimed the women’s titles.
Kenya first hosted the championships in 2024 in Eldoret, and the country is now set to host the event for the third consecutive time. The Kenya Cycling Federation is confident of selecting a strong team, with the national selection event set to identify the best cyclists to represent the country at the continental championships.
Key points
- The Kenya Cycling Federation will hold a national selection event to choose the top 10 riders in each category for the CAC Road Cycling African Championships.
- The championships will feature various events, including the Individual Time Trial, mixed relay, and elite men’s and women’s races.
- Kenya is set to host the CAC Road Cycling African Championships for the third consecutive time, following successful editions in Eldoret and Kwale County.
