Rohnan Nicholson outpace opponents for CAC Africa Road Cycling title

‎‎‎‎Zimbabwe’s Rohnan Nicholson edged out Mauritius and Algeria riders in a sprint finish to claim gold in the men’s junior 119.8km road race at day three of CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Kisumu today.‎‎Nicholson crossed the finish line in 3:06:12 ahead of Mauritius’ Juliano Ndriamanampy settling for silver while Algeria’s Abdelkader Bechelaghem completed the podium with bronze.‎‎With several talented riders in contention, the Zimbabwean said sticking to his game plan proved crucial as the pressure mounted towards the finish line.‎‎“There was a lot of pressure in the final metres, but I didn’t think of it. I just did the best I could,” he said.‎‎Beyond the hard-fought victory, Nicholson was impressed by the course and the enthusiastic reception from fans who lined the streets of Kisumu to cheer the riders on.‎‎“It’s a nice course. There are a lot of fans on the course who shout and cheer, which helps motivate me,” he said.‎‎The Zimbabwean also hailed the quality of competition at the championships, saying the performances on display in Kisumu were evidence that African cycling continues to make steady strides.‎‎“We are growing as a continent, and we seem to be getting better riders each year, which is good,” he added.‎‎Meanwhile, Kenya’s Victor Gathae endured a challenging outing, settling for 22nd place after crossing the finish line 12 minutes and 47 seconds behind Nicholson.‎‎Despite the difficult race, Gathae took encouragement from simply reaching the finish line after mechanical trouble compounded his struggles against a strong field.‎‎“The other riders had left me, and towards the end my bicycle snapped, but I just pushed myself to finish the race,” he said.‎‎For the Kenyan youngster, completing the demanding contest was more than just a morale booster; it offered valuable confidence and race experience as he turns his attention to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which get underway later this month in Senegal.‎‎Gathae said the experience had given him fresh motivation ahead of the international assignment, where he hopes to put the lessons learned in Kisumu to good use.‎‎“It’s a very big motivation for me to have finished the race. It motivated me as I go to Dakar,” he said.‎‎With the Youth Olympic Games fast approaching, Gathae days he will improve on his cornering.‎‎“Before Dakar, I will focus on taking corners in training so that I can be ready for the championship,” he said.‎‎Men’s Junior 119.8km Road Race‎

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