Belarus/Ethiopia/Israel/Morocco/Rwanda
National Championships
Road Race
5 countries come together for a flat national championship. Saber the only true sprinter here and he is the heavy favorite in Morocco. But there is one rider clearly about the rest in all the other countries as well: Riabushenko for Belarus, Tesfaye Heyi for Ethiopia Einhorn for Israel, and Hadi in Rwanda.
The overall favorites are:
Startlist
Spoiler
Koshevoy
Ilia
ISA - Hexacta
BLR
Riabushenko
Aliaksandr
Isostar - Specialized
BLR
Bazhkou
Stanislau
Xero Racing
BLR
Sakalou
Andrei
BWT Hyundai N Cycling
BLR
Sendeku
Getachew
ISA - Hexacta
ETH
Tesfaye Heyi
Henok
Xero Racing
ETH
Sagiv
Guy
ISA - Hexacta
ISR
Goldstein
Roy
Team Tinkoff - La Datcha
ISR
Einhorn
Itamar
Red Bull Zalgiris
ISR
Yechezkel
Aviv
Zwift Pro Cycling
ISR
Goldstein
Omer
Huski Chocolate
ISR
El Sabbahi
Houcaine
Bralirwa - Stevens
MOR
Mraouni
Salah Eddine
ISA - Hexacta
MOR
Saber
Lahcen
Cedevita
MOR
Chokri
El Mehdi
ISA - Hexacta
MOR
Uwizeyimana
Bonaventure
Bralirwa - Stevens
RWA
Ndayisenga
Valens
Bralirwa - Stevens
RWA
Mugisha
Samuel
Bralirwa - Stevens
RWA
Mugisha
Moise
Bralirwa - Stevens
RWA
Areruya
Joseph
Xero Racing
RWA
Hadi
Janvier
Bralirwa - Stevens
RWA
3.8k to go and an attack comes from Goldstein, Chokri, and Areruya.
That attack is closed down but a counter from Tesfaye Heyi gets a gap. He has 31 seconds with 2k to go, Cedevita leading the chase behind.
But the chase is disorganized and with 400 meters to go Tesfaye Heyi feels safe to celebrate becoming the Ethiopian National Champion.
Eventually the sprint start behind. Einhorn out front. Saber being challenged by El Sabbahi and Bazhkou matching Riabushenko, for now. Hadi the best placed of the Rwandans so far.
200 meters for Einhorn. Saber and Riabushenko have both moved ahead of their rivals.
Einhorn, Saber and Riabushenko get the wins. Hadi last in the front group but first for Rwanda. The favorites sweep the titles and Saber goes back-to-back as Moroccan champion.
Results
1
Henok Tesfaye Heyi
Xero 2
1h30'22
2
Itamar Einhorn
Red Bull Zalgiris
+ 34
3
Lahcen Saber
Cedevita
s.t.
4
Houcaine El Sabbahi
Bralirwa 2
s.t.
5
Aliaksandr Riabushenko
Isostar - Specialized
s.t.
6
Guy Sagiv
ISA 4
s.t.
7
Salah Eddine Mraouni
ISA - Hexacta
s.t.
8
Stanislau Bazhkou
Xero 3
s.t.
9
Omer Goldstein
Huski Chocolate
s.t.
10
Janvier Hadi
Bralirwa - Stevens
s.t.
11
El Mehdi Chokri
ISA - Hexacta
s.t.
12
Joseph Areruya
Xero Racing
s.t.
13
Bonaventure Uwizeyimana
Bralirwa - Stevens
s.t.
14
Andrei Sakalou
BWT Hyundai N Cycling
s.t.
15
Getachew Sendeku
ISA 3
s.t.
16
Ilia Koshevoy
ISA 2
s.t.
17
Aviv Yechezkel
Zwift Pro Cycling
s.t.
18
Roy Goldstein
Team Tinkoff
s.t.
19
Valens Ndayisenga
Bralirwa - Stevens
s.t.
20
Moise Mugisha
Bralirwa - Stevens
s.t.
21
Samuel Mugisha
Bralirwa - Stevens
s.t.
Time Trial
The Goldsteins will battle it out for the Israeli title (Omer won last year). Bazhkou (BLR) and Sendeku (ETH) are both the favorites and the defending champions. The Rwandan and Moroccan battles look a little more open.
Uwizeyimana, the defending Rwandan champion is the first to finish. His time is 1'5’12.
Mraouni is the next rider home, he is also the defending champion and one of the top Moroccan contenders. His time is 1’01 down on the Rwandan but he had by far the best time by a Moroccan so far. However, Chokri, his main rival, still to come.
Chokri comes through the last check 16 seconds down on Mraouni.
Sendeku comes through the last check over 3 minutes ahead of his rival. He will repeat as Ethiopian champion for ISA-Hexacta.
Hadi is 21 seconds down on Uwizeyimana at the 2nd check, he needs to make up ground if he going to do the double.
Bazhkou close to home now. Ahead of him Chokri and Hadi have failed to overhaul Maraouni and Uwizeyimana, so the latter two will be repeating as national champions for Morocco and Rwanda.
Bazhkou comes in 12 seconds short of Uwizeyimana for best time but that is plenty good enough to keep him in the Belarussian TT jersey for another year. Only the Goldsteins left on the course.
Omer Goldstein sets the new best time by 9 seconds, but will it be good enough to beat Roy?
No, not even close, Roy Goldstein goes almost a minute faster and is the new Israeli TT champion.
