Ethiopian Tsige bags second gold medal at CAC African Championships

Ethiopia's ‎Kiros Kahsay Tsige wins the junior women's road race on second day of the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Diani on Friday. PHOTO – CAC LOC MEDIA

Diani, Friday, November 21, 2025

Ethiopian star Kiros Kahsay Tsige tightened her grip on the junior women’s category at the CAC Road Cycling African Championships, storming to her second gold medal with a composed and commanding victory in the 64.5-kilometre junior women’s road race on Friday in Diani, Kwale County.

Tsige stopped the clock at two hours, two minutes and 58 seconds, outsprinting Rwanda’s Yvonne Masengesho and compatriot Kssnet Grmay Gebreslasse, who settled for silver and bronze respectively.

Her triumph added to Thursday’s masterclass in the Junior Women’s Individual Time Trial (ITT), where she tore through the coastal humidity to clock 19:59.09, beating Eritrea’s Tesfu Adyam (20:09.80) and Rwanda’s Masengesho (20:30.22).

The peloton in action during the junior women's road race on second day of the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Diani on Friday. PHOTO – CAC LOC MEDIA

‎Tsige said completing the golden double had been in her blueprint from day one.

‎“I had already planned to win gold today. My target was to secure both gold medals,” she said.

‎She admitted the conditions have tested the riders’ resilience as much as their speed.

‎“Since yesterday, the weather conditions have been hot and very challenging,” she said. “Today the weather was a bit windier.”

‎Her preparations, however, were equally unforgiving.

‎“I have been training hard in Ethiopia for this race,” she noted.

‎Both Tsige and Gebreslasse, who train together, are eyeing a broader horizon as they prepare to take their African dominance to European circuits.

‎“I have joined a club in Spain and I am hoping to expand my resume in cycling,” Tsige said.

‎“I train with Gebreslasse so we have been pushing each other. I hope she can also get a team in Europe so she can continue her success.”

‎For Masengesho, Friday’s silver was a redemption ride after her bronze in the ITT. 

‎“I am very excited and happy to have won my second medal at these championships,” she said.

‎She reserved special gratitude for those back home.

‎“I was so lucky to be part of the World Championships in Rwanda. After that, the government and federation were instrumental in preparing us for the African Championships.”

‎The young Rwandan is already steering her ambitions toward the next continental showdown.

‎“My target is to win gold at the next African Championships.”