Seven emerging African talents you should know about

Cor Vos

It’s almost become something of a cliché. We have been told for years now that there is a wealth of talent in Africa that is about to break through to challenge the European cycling elite.

It is true to an extent. There are many talented riders in Africa who need the opportunity to prove themselves as the next big thing. For most, that opportunity never comes, but things are changing.

The Road World Championships in Kigali revealed flashes of Africa’s talent and of cycling’s potential for a more global future. Kim Le Court-Pienaar and Biniam Girmay are spearheading the way in terms of African riders in the top echelons, but who are the next crop of riders who are likely to emerge? Who are the riders who have that key combination of talent and opportunity?

Here are seven African riders who could become Le Court-Pienaar and Girmay’s successors.

Tsige Kahsay Kiros

Tsige Kiros (center, yellow, black and red jersey) at the head of the field during the junior women's road race at the World Championships in Kigali.

“She could win the Tour de France one day.” That’s what Tsige Kahsay Kiros’ UCI World Cycling Centre coach Clint Hendricks said last year, high on the Ethiopian's 7th-place finish in the junior women’s road race at the World Championships in Kigali. If you watched that race, you already know why there is a great deal of hype around her. Facing off against the best juniors in the world, Kiros looked like the strongest rider in the race, attacking multiple times, but lacking the tactical know-how to win.

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