Rwandan rider, Janvier Hadi defied odds to claim a bronze medal in the African Continental Championships in the men’s elite U-23 category which climaxed on Thursday in Sharm El Sheikh Egypt.
Janvier Hadi
The 22-year-old rider came one minute and 33 minutes behind Eritrean duo of Okubamariam Tesfam and Kudus Merhawi who clocked 3:41:06 over a distance of 155km to win the event.
In the general classification, Eritrean duo of Tesfam and Kudus as well as Craven Dan of Nambia were tied after clocking 3:41:06 respectively.
Algeria’s Benyoucef Abdellah came one minute behind the winners while Hadi finished fifth after one minute and 33 seconds with Tunisian Ben Naser Hassen finishing a minute and 43 seconds behind.
Other Rwandans; Adrien Niyonshuti finished 19th; Hategeka Gasore ranked 29; Abraham Ruhumuriza ranked 30; Bonaventure Uwizeyimana and Valens Ndayisenga finished in 34th and 38th position, all coming five minutes and 36 seconds behind the winner.
Hadi’s brilliant performance follows team mate Valens Ndayisenga who finished in fourth position in the individual time trial of the men’s elite U-23 category on Tuesday.
Steadily rising into a household name, Ndayisenga also crossed the line in seventh position in the senior category of the men’s individual time trial.
U23 General Classification
1. Okubamariam Tesfam (Eritrea) 3:41:06
2. Kudus Merhawi (Eritrea) 3:41:06
3. Hadi Janvier (Rwanda) +1:33
Full General Classification
1. Okubamariam Tesfam (Eritrea) 3:41:06
2. Craven Dan (Namibia) 3:41:06
3. Kudus Merhawi (Eritrea) 3:41:06
4. Benyoucef Abdellah (Algeria) +1:00
5. Janvier Hadi (Rwanda) +1:33
6. Ben Naser Hassen (Tunisia) +1:43
Other Rwandans
19. Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwanda) +5:36
29. Hategeka Gasore (Rwanda) +5:36
30. Abraham Ruhumuriza (Rwanda) +5:36
34. Bonaventure Uwizeyimana (Rwanda) +5:36
38. Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda) +5:36
By Peter Kamasa,The New Times