Four South African cyclists – Dylan Girdlestone, Daryl Impey, Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg and Louis Meintjes – have been shortlisted among 24 nominated candidates for the 2013 Best African Cyclist of the Year award.
Image credit: www.supersport.co.za
The organisers of the award, who also organise an annual event La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, released a press statement listing the 24 nominated athletes for the second consecutive edition of the award. The current titleholder is Eritrean professional cyclist, Natnael Berhane.
As the name of the award suggests, the nominated cyclists are all of an African nationality, regardless of whether they race for a pro-continental team or a foreign professional team. It is also open to all African riders selected to represent their national team.
The jury is chaired by the five times winner of the Tour de France, Bernard Hinault, with a prestigious member, Chris Froome, winner of the 2013 Tour de France. The diversity of the jury ranges from various backgrounds and various functions (trainers, riders, organisers, journalists, etc.).
The winner will be officially announced at the end of December 2013, and the prize will be awarded at the ninth edition of the La Tropicale Amissa Bongo in January 2014.
Nominated cyclists for 2013 Best African Cyclist of the Year Trophy
ABELOUACHE Essaid– Morocco – 33 – National Team of Morocco
BARBARI Adil – Algeria – 20 – Vélo-Club Sovac (ALG)
BERHANE Natnael – Eritrea – 22 – Team Europcar (FRA)
CHABANE Hichem – Algeria– 25 – Vélo-Club Sovac (ALG)
CHTIOUI Rafaa – Tunisia – 27 – National Team of Tunisia
CISSE Issiaka – Ivory Coast – 22 – Cycling World Center UCI (SUI)
DEBESAY Mekseb – Eritrea – 22 – MTN-Qhubeka Cycling Center Africa Team (RSA)
EYOB Metkel – Eritrea – 20 – National Team of Eritrea
GIRDLESTONE Dylan – South Africa – 24 – Westvaal-BMC (RSA)
GRMAY Tsgabu – Ethiopia – 22 – MTN-Qhubeka (RSA)
HADI Janvier – Rwanda – 22 ans – National Team of Rwanda
HADDI Soufian – Morocco – 22 – National Team of Morocco
HANNACHI Abdelbaset – Algeria – 28 – GSP Algérie (ALG)
IMPEY Daryl – South Africa – 28 – Orica-GreenEdge (AUS)
JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinhardt – South Africa – 24 – Argos-Shimano (NED)
JELLOUL Adil – Morocco – 31 – National Team of Morocco
KUDUS Merhawi – Eritrea – 19 – Cycling World Center UCI (SUI)
LAGAB Azzedine – Algeria – 25 – GSP Algérie (ALG)
MEINTJES Louis – South Africa – 21 – MTN-Qhubeka (RSA)
NDAYISENGA Valens – Rwanda – 19 – National Team of Rwanda
NIKIEMA Abdoul Aziz – Burkina Faso – 24 – National Team of Burkina Faso
NGUE NGOCK Yves – Cameroon – 24 – AVC Aurillac (Fra) / SNH Vélo-Club (CAM)
OKUBAMARIAM Tesfom – Eritrea – 22 – MTN-Qhubeka Cycling Center Africa Team (RSA)
TEKLEHAIMANOT Daniel – Eritrea – 25 – Orica-GreenEdge (AUS)
Surely impey