Elite men’s ITT – Top three
1. Sirak Tesfom (Eritrea) 42:50:81
2. Aron Debretsion (Eritrea) 44:19:55
3. Daniel Habtemicheal (Eritrea) 44:32:59
Rwandans
6. Moise Mugisha 46:41:40
7. Samuel Mugisha 46:46:39
Under-23 category
1. Daniel Habtemicheal (Eritrea) 44:32:59
2. Henok Mulubrhan (Eritrea) 45:42:38
3. Moise Mugisha (Rwanda) 46:41:40
4. Samuel Mugisha (Rwanda) 46:46:39
Fast-rising star Moise Mugisha was the highlight of the day for Team Rwanda on Thursday as the 21-year old scooped a bronze medal in the men’s Individual Time Trial (ITT) U23 category at the ongoing Africa Cup in Asmara, Eritrea.
Last month, Mugisha defied the odds to win Karongi Challenge in Rwanda Cycling Cup, which marked his first victory in senior category since graduating from junior competitions in January this year.
As expected, it was another day for the home riders to dominate the medal table. Rwanda’s Mugisha was the only non-Eritrean rider to win a medal.
Mugisha clocked 46 minutes 41 seconds and 40 microseconds to cover the 38km distance as he finished sixth overall and third in the U23 category. Compatriot Samuel Mugisha – the reigning Tour du Rwanda champion – finished seventh overall and fourth in U23 riders.
The gold medalist in U23 category, Daniel Habtemicheal, struck bronze in the overall category as he finished one minute and forty-two seconds behind countryman Sirak Tesfom who claimed gold. Aron Debretsion, another Eritrean, clinched silver.
Henok Mulubrhan won silver in the U23 category. He finished 59 seconds ahead of Mugisha.
The competitions continue on Saturday with the main race of the event – the men’s road race.
At the four-day long multi-category continental showpiece, Rwanda is represented by four riders, Moise Mugisha, Samuel Mugisha, Eric Manizabayo and Didier Munyaneza.