Cycling team receives cash bonus for African Championships & Tour of Rwanda performance
Mekelle, Tigray – The Tigray Region Youth & Sports Bureau has awarded cash bonuses for 6 of the region’s cyclists who represented Ethiopia at the African Cycling Championship and Tour of Rwanda, during a dinner reception held at Milano Hotel here.
The Ethiopian Cycling Federation awarded the cyclists cash bonuses back in November after they’ve returned from Rwanda.
Tigabu Gebre-Mariam, Solomon Bitew and Stefanos Kebede received 5,000 Birr each, while Goytom Mebratu, Mesgana Kahsay and Yirgalem Wolde-Mariam received 4,000 Birr each for their performance at the Tour of Rwanda and the 10th African Cycling Championships, also held in Rwanda.
Head coach Mehari Duri was also awarded a 5,000 cash bonus for his efforts.
Team Eritrea won both the individual and team titles in both competitions.
10th African Cycling Championships:
In the 33km U23 time trial, Tigabu Gebre-Mariam finished 3rd and won a bronze medal, and the Ethiopian team of Solomon Bitew, Goytom Mebratu, Mesgana Kahsay and Yirgalem Wolde-Mariam, also won bronze medal for finishing 3rd in the 40km team’s category.
Tour of Rwanda:
Ethiopian and Eritrean cyclists dominated the competition occupying 9 out of the top 15 positions.
Final general classification after stage 9:
| 1 | Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) Eritrea | 29:02:32 | |
| 2 | Teweldemedhin Natnael Berhane (Eri) Eritrea | 0:00:56 | |
| 3 | Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) South Africa | 0:02:11 | |
| 4 | Adil Jelloul (Mar) Morocco | 0:02:19 | |
| 5 | Tegabu Gebre-Mariam (Eth) UCI Continental Center | 0:03:04 | |
| 6 | Meron Russom (Eri) Eritrea | 0:04:41 | |
| 7 | Tesfai Teklit (Eri) Eritrea | 0:04:44 | |
| 8 | Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) Rwanda | 0:04:45 | |
| 9 | Stefanos Gebreselassie (Eth) UCI Continental Center | 0:06:03 | |
| 10 | Frekalsi Debesai (Eri) Eritrea | 0:07:27 | |
| 11 | Abdelati Saadoune (Mar) Morocco | 0:11:58 | |
| 12 | Julien Schick (Fra) C.A. Castelsarrasin | 0:15:41 | |
| 13 | Nathan Byukusenge (Rwa) Rwanda | 0:21:25 | |
| 14 | Sollomon Bitew (Eth) UCI Continental Center | 0:23:15 | |
| 15 | Araya Medhin Dawit Haile (Eri) Eritrea | 0:27:19 |
