Mauritius blaze to Mixed Relay glory in day two of CAC championships

Team Kenya male cyclists prepare to take on the 28-kilometre mixed relay during second day of the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Diani. PHOTO – CAC LOC MEDIA

Diani, November 21, 2025

Mauritius lit up the second day of the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Diani, Kwale County, powering to gold in the mixed 28-kilometres relay on Friday morning.

‎A mixed relay in cycling is a national team time trial that blends power and synergy, with three men and three women taking on the same circuit in a relay format. 

‎The men set off first, laying down the opening split before handing over to the women, who chase the clock on the same loop. 

‎The final time is stamped when the second female rider thunders across the finish line.

‎Mauritius delivered a strong performance, clocking a combined time of 35 minutes 24.11 seconds, edging Rwanda to silver by a razor-thin margin as they stopped the clock at 35:24.42, with Algeria sealing bronze in 36:17.53.

‎Mauritian rider Aurelien De Comarmond said the team arrived in Diani with victory in their mind.

‎“We are super happy to have won the team mixed relay. We are really proud of this performance,” he said. “Coming into this race we wanted to win, but we knew the other countries were super strong.”

‎He underlined just how fierce the contest was, with the title decided by fractions of a second.

‎“We won by a small gap, so it shows just how tight the competition was. Rwanda was really strong and they had some good cyclists."

‎"However, we knew we were super strong when we ride together.”

‎Team chemistry, he noted, was their greatest weapon.

‎“We had super good teamwork today, we are like a family. Everybody knows how to ride with each other.”

‎Comarmond also pointed to the demanding nature of the coastal circuit.

‎“This was a hard course. It was very hot, which made the race even tougher, but we managed our pace very well and did what we could.”

‎The triumph held personal significance for him after missing last year’s championships in Eldoret.

‎“During the last championship I was to compete in the mixed relay but I could not, I had some complications. I am happy to be back, to compete, and to win this year.”

‎He added that his preparations for Diani had been intense.

‎“My training has been really intense. I was in China racing with my team and had done some top races before coming here. That really helped me because I am in good shape.”

‎His sights now shift to Sunday’s road race.

‎“We have big intentions to do well, so we will try to do the best for the country again and see what the race has to offer.”

‎Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Nirere Xaverine said they had lined up fully intent on chasing gold.

‎“Our plan was to win, but we finished second. Being on the podium is also good for us,” she said.

‎“We had prepared for a month before coming to the African Championships.”

‎She admitted the contest and the scorching coastal heat pushed the team to its limits.

‎“The competition was very hard. The weather was also a big challenge for our team.”

Her focus now switches to Saturday’s road race, where she is eyeing top honours.

‎“I will be in the road race tomorrow, my target is to win.”

Leading results from the Mixed Relay at the CAC Road Cycling African Championship in Diani

TEAM	PELOTON	TIME
Mauritius	De Comarmond Aurelien, ME Henri Alexandre Mayer, ME Jeremy Raboude, MU Lucie De Marigny-Lagesse, WE Aurelie Halbwachs, WE Raphaelle Lamusse, WE)	35: 24.112
Rwanda	Moise Mugisha, ME Shemu Nsengiyumva, ME Etienne Tuyizere, MU Diane Ingabire, WE Xaveline Nirere, WE Martha Ntakirutimana, WU	35:24.429 (+0:00.317)
Algeria	AMARI Hamza Amari, ME Azzedine Lagab, ME Islam Mansouri, ME Youcef Reguigui, ME Nassim Saidi, ME Oussama Abdellah Mimouni, MU	36:17.534 (+0:53.422)