Africa-Press – Eritrea. As the 2026 Tour du Rwanda approaches, the Eritrean national team prepares to add another chapter to their remarkable history in one of Africa’s most prestigious cycling races.
Cycling runs deep in Eritrea’s veins. As FIFA’s special envoy, Mr. Abhishek Yadav, observed during his recent visit, “Football (to some extent) and cycling are part of the national identity.” This truth manifests most visibly when Eritrean riders take to the challenging roads of the Tour du Rwanda, a race where they have established themselves as the dominant force over the past decade.
The Tour du Rwanda, established in 1988 and elevated to UCI 2.1 category status in 2009, has become a proving ground for African cycling talent. And no nation has conquered its punishing climbs more consistently than Eritrea. Eritrean dominance began in earnest in 2010, when Daniel Teklehaimanot claimed overall victory, becoming the first Eritrean champion. This set the stage for what would become a remarkable tradition of success.
In 2019, Merhawi Kudus (then riding for Astana) continued the streak, followed by Natnael Tesfatsion’s memorable triumph in 2020. Natnael’s victory was particularly special—at just 20 years old, he became the third Eritrean winner and second in a row, claiming not only the coveted Yellow Jersey but also the best African rider and best young rider classifications. His compatriot, Dawit Yemane, added to the haul by securing the best sprinter jersey.
Natnael repeated his success in 2022, while Henok Mulubrhan claimed the title in 2023, further cementing Eritrea’s status as Africa’s cycling powerhouse.
The 2025 edition of Tour du Rwanda saw Eritrean riders immediately stamp their authority on the race. On the opening stage from Rukomo to Kayonza, reigning African Champion Henok Mulubrhan delivered a spectacular victory in a photo-finish sprint. Riding as part of the Eritrean National Team, Henok completed the challenging 158 km stage in 3 hours, 57 minutes, and 52 seconds, edging out Rotem Tene of Israel Premier Tech and Lorenzo Manzin of Team Total Energies.
This marked Henok’s third career stage victory in Tour du Rwanda, adding to the two stage wins he accumulated during his triumphant 2023 campaign. The victory also represented his first win of the 2025 season while riding for XDS Astana Team.
As the cycling world turns its attention to the 2026 Tour du Rwanda, scheduled from February 22 to March 1, the Eritrean national team once again features prominently in the confirmed 18-team roster. The race will span an ambitious 993 kilometres, with the longest stage being the 174-kilometer Gicumbi-Rwamagana route.
The Eritrean squad will face formidable international competition. The field includes WorldTour powerhouses such as Movistar Team, Soudal Quick- Step, Team Picnic PostNL, and Lotto-Intermarché, as well as development riders from UAE Team Emirates. Continental teams like Bike Aid, Team Amani, Benediction Cycling Team, and Madar Pro Cycling round out a deeply competitive field.The 2026 edition introduces a significant tactical evolution: for the first time in Tour du Rwanda history, bonus seconds will be awarded not only at stage finishes but also at intermediate sprint points. This format, common in elite races like the Tour de France but rarely used in mid-stage races, promises to reshape race dynamics.
At Stage One’s 72.6-kilometre mark in Nyagatare, the first three riders will earn 10, six, and four seconds, respectively, deducted from their overall time. The same format applies in Stage Two from Nyamata to Huye. This innovation is designed to encourage aggressive racing from the opening kilometres and prevent passive tactics.
For Eritrean riders, the Tour du Rwanda represents more than athletic competition. It embodies the nation’s cycling identity—an identity forged on the highlands of Asmara and the winding roads of the Eritrean countryside, where children grow up dreaming of following in the tyre tracks of their heroes.
The sight of Eritrean cyclists standing atop the podium in Kigali has become almost customary. In 2020, the Eritrean community in Rwanda joined their national team in celebration, filling the podium ceremony with joy and pride as their countrymen claimed victory. These moments transcend sport, representing national unity and the fulfillment of potential against considerable odds.
As the 2026 Tour du Rwanda begins tomorrow, the Eritrean national team carries not only the hopes of their nation but also the weight of a remarkable legacy. With five overall victories since 2010 and countless stage wins, they have established standards of excellence that each new generation must strive to meet.
The team will need to navigate the new bonus-second system strategically, leveraging their climbers’ strength in the mountains while contesting intermediate sprints. The field is deeper than ever, with WorldTour teams bringing their full resources to bear on African roads.
Yet if history teaches anything, it is that Eritrean cyclists rise to challenges. From Daniel Teklehaimanot’s pioneering victory to Natnael Tesfatsion’s youth-filled triumph to Henok Mulubrhan’s ongoing dominance, they have repeatedly demonstrated that Eritrea’s cycling identity is not merely a label—it is a living, breathing force that produces champions.
When the starting flag drops Tomorrow, February 22, all eyes will be on the Eritrean national team. In a race they have made their own, they will seek to add another chapter to an already extraordinary story.
