Berhane with the chance of a lifetime to take this mountain NC given that Kudus is absent. Teklehaimanot should be his closest competitor.
No one has a team here to control the race or put on pressure, so the amateurs are trying to prove their worth. The pack is still whole as they enter the final climb.
With 4 km left, Gebrezgabihier attacks! Habtemichael, Okbamariam, and Berhane try to follow.
Gebrezgabihier has a gap as remnants of the peloton catch up behind. The rest are chasing hard, but they're not making up ground.
The sprint is on in the final km and they're just about catching the leader, but he's not completely cracking. Strangely it's Debesay who is coming hardest to the front now.
But Gebrezgabihier holds on to the line and wins the Eritrean road race! Habtemichael nabs 2nd ahead of Berhane. The puncheurs were pretty strong today.
1
Amanuel Gebrezgabihier
MOL
2h20'22
2
Daniel Habtemichael
Xero Racing
s.t.
3
Natnael Berhane
ISA - Hexacta
s.t.
4
Mekseb Debesay
Xero Racing
s.t.
5
Daniel Teklehaimanot
King Power
s.t.
6
Tesfar Teklit
Aramco DP
+ 26
7
Tesfom Okbamariam
Bralirwa - Stevens Bikes
s.t.
8
Meron Amanuel
Team Europcar
s.t.
9
Jani Tewelde
Aramco DP
+ 1'23
10
Mikiel Habtom
Bralirwa - Stevens Bikes
s.t.
Teklehaimanot, Debesay, and Habtemichael should be the contenders.
Habtemichael sets the early time.
Debesay is beating him at the time checks though, -12'' and -19'' respectively.
It seems like Teklehaimanot is taking care of business though. He's 15 seconds ahead at the second timecheck.
Debesay finishes with the best time.
But Teklehaimanot consolidates his effort and will win the jersey by 27 seconds.
