Charles Kagimu: Ugandan cyclist powers to 2023 ITT African Gold | Elite Category

Africa Continental Championships (ITT) 2023:

Elite Category:

• Gold: Charles Kagimu (Uganda)
• Silver: Moise Mugisha (Rwanda)
• Bronze: Henok Mulubrhan (Eritrea)

Uganda’s Charles Kagimu cycled to a memorable gold medal during the Elite category at the 2023 Africa Continental championships (ITT) held in Accra city, Ghana on Thursday, February 9.

Using a special bike from Team Ineos, Kagimu scooped the gold ahead of Rwanda’s Moise Mugisha and Eritrean Henok Mulubrhan who finished second and third respectively in a total distance of 36 kilometres on the road.

This was the first major win for the 24-year-old Ugandan who came 6^th in the 2021 edition and  27^th in the 2022 Tour Du Rwanda (27^th stage).

For starters, Kagimu is ranked 1973^rd in the entire world.

The women elite cluster was won by Aurelie Halbwachs from Mauritius. Rwanda’s Valentine Nzayisenga finished second (silver) and another Mauritius rider Kimberley Le Court came third (bronze).

Meanwhile, another Ugandan, Lawrence Lorot won silver in the Junior TT category. Lorot is also a rider from the Ineos Academy in Kenya.

Algeria’s Nesrine Houili won the women U-23 gold as Rwanda’s Diane Ingabire settled for silver and Raja Chakir (Morocco) worked for bronze in a route that witnessed cyclists travel through Olebu, Ablekuma and Pokuase within Accra city.

This category also had a Ugandan rider in Florence Nakagwa.

Another Eritrean Aklilu Arefaine won silver medal in ITT for U-23 category.

Teams events:

Algeria won the men team event over 36 kilometres. Eritrea and Rwanda followed suit in second and third positions respectively.

The winning team of Algeria had Saidi Nassim, Lagab Azzedine, Amari Hamza and Mansouri Hamza.

Angola finished fourth, Mauritius (5th), Burkina Faso (6th), Ethiopia (7th), Ghana (8th) and Zimbabwe (9th).

In the women cluster; Mauritius won gold, Namibia (silver) and Rwanda (bronze).

The triumphant team of Mauritius had Raphaelle Lamusse, Le Court Kimberley, Llucie De Marigny Lagesse and Aurelie Halbwachs.

Juniors:

Algeria national team won the Junior team gold with Morocco taking silver and Mauritius finishing third to scoop bronze.

Rwanda finished fourth and hosts Ghana came fifth.

In the women juniors; Algeria came top, followed by Ethiopia in second place over a distance of 24 kilometres.

Algeria’s team was composed of Bousba Siham, Bellie Hosna, Malik Mechab and Silmi Soulef.

Focus will now switch to the 2023 Tour Du Rwanda (19^th to 26^th February).