Kenya will tackle the mountain route. Just 10 riders split across 5 teams. Kenya Airways have their riders cut into three.
Team Kenya Airways
Team Kenya Airways
Team Kenya Airways
Mwangi Samwel
Zakayo Ndbri
Simon Kimeli
Samwel Ekiru
Hillary Kiprotich
Daniel Njoroge
Suleiman Kangangi
Mujtaba Hussein
Project: Africa
Jaguar-Eritel
Joseph Gichora
Hussein Manfred
So there are two clear favorites for the race, Samwel and Ndbri. But can their teams handle a breakaway?
The attacks take slightly longer to come today than normal. Kangangi(KEN 63MO) heads then along with Manfred(JAG 67MO), Gichora(AFR 60MO), Njoroge(KEN 72MO) and Kiprotich(KEN 63MO). Interestingly that's every team represented, so a chase doesn't look likely.
Gichora is not haveing a good day and is dropped from the breakaway on the first climb. But he digs deep and comes back on the decent.
The breakaway sits up! And Samwel, Ndbri and Kimeli ride themselves across to them! A massive change in the race situation now the favorites are in the front group. Certainly far from a common sight in these Nationals...
Having come across Samwel and Ndbri go on the attack just one kilometer later! With 13km to race this is a big move by the two favorites. Njoroge tries to counter but gets caught in nomans-land between the groups.
5km to go and the final climb ramps up from here. Samwel shows his strength and pulls away from Ndbri! Njoroge is still behind the duo, whilst Manfred has attacked the peloton in 4th place not far behind.
Samwel still leads under the kite! His gap is slim and he's surely expended more energy than Ndbri. A good sprint from Zakayo could bring him back into contention. Njoroge has the measure of Manfred and looks set for 3rd place.
Mwangi Samwel wins the Kenyan Road Race! Ndbri didn't have the energy left to close the gap and takes second place. Njoroge does indeed come third. A complete Kenya Airways podium with the two favorites on top, an excellent race for them. Manfred finishes 4th for Jaguar and Gichora 5th for Africa.
Road Race Title/ Mwangi Samwel (Team Kenya Airways)
Mujtaba Hussein(KEN 72TT) is clear favorite to win today but the podium fight between Kimeli(KEN 66TT) and Ekiru(KEN 66TT) could provide some fireworks!
Kimeli is the first of the trio on the road. As expected he sets provisional best times on his way across the course. 37'25 at halfway and 1'12'28 at the finish are very respectable times!
Ekiru follows behind on course. He passes the halfway mark at 37'26! His pace seems good and holds good body position. But it's not quiet enough as he crosses the line in 1'12'30....
Just to emphasise the gap in skills Hussein comes within 75m of catching Ekiru at the line! Mujtaba blew everyone else away finishing with a time of 1'10'41. A full 1'47 quicker than Kimeli! Hussein with an astonashingly quick time all things considered.
Time Trial Title/ Mujtaba Hussein (Team Kenya Airways)
Kenya will tackle the mountain route. Just 10 riders split across 5 teams. Kenya Airways have their riders cut into three.
