A cobbled NC in Kenya with a bunch of low skilled cobblers. 7 riders in total of which 5 are riding for their home team.
Eritel and Vesuvio with one rider each might try to steal it. That said Hussein of Vesuvio is also a loanie by Kenya. So only Eritel`s Gichora could crash the party.
But to make it short. The split Kenya Airways team decided to send out a rider each. No other rider in the break but is this the decision already?
Manfred, Kimeli and Njoroge are those 3. Their incredible cobbled power is 50, 53 and 54. So very equal and just as bad.
The situation is unchanged until 3km to go. The remaining 4 riders are 21min back and won`t make an impact today. But in front it`s a team mate fight for the win.
2,2km and Kimeli decides to avoid a sprint finish. He would be the weakest sprinter but then again being the best cobbler of those 3. So attacking on the paves makes sense.
He quickly opens a 20s gap and has passed the Flamme Rouge already.
He keeps such gap and wins the Kenyan NC.
Njoroge and Manfred follow on the podium. But most important that the jersey stays in the home team.
The ITT should be an easy decision as there is just one Kenyan liking the solo ride against the clock.
This one is M. Hussein riding in Vesuvio colours but is most likely to return to Kenya for 2016 after his PT loan out season. Being a decent time trialist alraedy, he will be even stronger next year, when still riding in the PT due to the huge Kenya Airways performance this year.
Already at the first split he proves his doinance by gapping all others by at least 1min. Kimeli and Njoroge still the closest.
With every split he gains another 40-60s, which results in a big win 3'30 ahead of Kimeli and more than 4min to Njoroge. So the jersey remains on his shoulders.
Simon Kimeli
