Tesfalem opens final day with fierce strike as Eritrea shines in Diani

Eritrea's Natan Tesfalem celebrates after winning the junior men's 107.6-kilometre road race at the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Kwale on Sunday. PHOTO – CAC LOC MEDIA

Diani, Saturday, November 23, 2025

Eritrea’s Natan Tesfalem lit up the final day of the CAC Road Cycling African Championships with a commanding triumph in the junior men’s 107.6-kilometre road race on Sunday morning in Diani, Kwale County.

‎Tesfalem powered across the finish in two minutes, 44:19 seconds, holding off Uganda’s Paul Miro (2:44:44) and Namibia’s Roger Suren (2:45:57) in a thrilling battle under the scorching coastal heat.

‎The Eritrean revealed he had lined up fully intent on taking gold.

‎“I am happy to have won today. This was my plan all along,” he said.

‎His golden charge, however, was briefly rattled during the six-lap loop around Diani after a fall in the fifth lap.

‎“I fell in the fifth lap and the leading pack left me by a margin, but I was able to recover,” he noted.

Tesfalem believes the victory could propel him to greater heights.

‎“This medal will open many doors for me, and I hope I can get a team in Europe.”

‎Meanwhile, Miro, Uganda’s lone representative and a debutant at the African Championships, was delighted to deliver a medal for his country.

Uganda’s Paul Miro finishes second in the junior men's 107.6-kilometre road race at the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Kwale on Sunday. PHOTO – CAC LOC MEDIA

‎“The race was good for me. It has been fantastic. This was my first time at the African Championships,” he said.

‎Buoyed by silver, Miro now dreams of representing Uganda at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

‎“My target is to prepare for the 2028 Olympic Games.”

‎Namibia’s Suren, who completed the podium, was equally thrilled after missing out on last year’s championships.

‎“Last year I did not have the chance to represent,” he shared.

‎He admitted the coastal heat was unforgiving but manageable.

‎“Kenya is really hot, but everyone has to cope with it, and I think I managed well,” he said.

‎Suren noted that the tempo set by the leading duo was relentless.

Namibia’s Roger Suren celebrates after finishing third in the junior men's 107.6-kilometre road race at the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Kwale on Sunday. PHOTO – CAC LOC MEDIA

‎“The pace was really high. I didn’t know about the first two, I thought I was ahead, but then I found I was third. This wasn’t my hardest race, but it really tested me towards the finish.”

‎The Namibian youngster revealed he had taken his preparations seriously heading into the continental showdown.

‎“I started training for the African Championships four weeks ago. I did around 300km a week,” he said.