Top cyclists eye berths in Kenya teams

PHOTO | FILE From left: Kenya’s Jane Wachuka, Joyce Nyaruri and Sharon Wambui during a past competition.

What you need to know:

  • The preliminary trials will be in Nakuru on Saturday and Sunday. The top eight cyclists in every category will qualify for the national trials on March 11 and 12 in Nanyuki, where the teams for the events will be unveiled.
  • Joyce Nyaruri, the top lady cyclist, fourth-best in Africa, will lead previous Commonwealth Games national qualifiers Sharon Kiragu and Jane Kamau as they seek to recapture the team bragging rights this year.

The Kenya Amateur Cycling Federation will select its teams for the Commonwealth Games and African Youth Games in two sets of trials in Nakuru and Laikipia between March 8 and 12.

The preliminary trials will be in Nakuru on Saturday and Sunday. The top eight cyclists in every category will qualify for the national trials on March 11 and 12 in Nanyuki, where the teams for the events will be unveiled.

There will be two competitions, the off-road mountain and road races with individual cyclists, clubs and 21 county teams competing in junior, senior and ladies categories with ordinary and mountain bikes. 

On Saturday, the 42km and 30kms mountain bikes race will be held at Baruk grounds in Lanet, where cyclists of all ages are allowed to compete.

Sunday has the senior men’s 150km while senior women, girls and boys events will cover 100km. Competitors will start and end at the Nakuru general Post Office. Cyclists will move through Kabarnet-Ravine Road, Rongai then Nakuru town, Lanet, down to Ndondori, up to Olkalau and back to the starting point.

A number of top cyclists, who have represented the country in foreign events are in the race.

Senior men’s race has internationals, including Central Africa champion Joseph Njoroge as cyclists eye slots for the Glasgow Commonwealth.

There is also Tour China and Australia finishers Antony Muite and Samson Gichuru. Sammy Mwangi, Paul Ariko, Kipchumba Kogo will also be in the race.

Joyce Nyaruri, the top lady cyclist, fourth-best in Africa, will lead previous Commonwealth Games national qualifiers Sharon Kiragu and Jane Kamau as they seek to recapture the team bragging rights this year.