For the third consecutive year, Kenya will host Africa’s top road cyclists as the 2026 African Road Cycling Championships take place from October 21 to 25. The main question will be who can succeed South Africa’s Hayley Preen in the women’s elite category and Eritrea’s Merhawi Kudus in the men’s elite race.
The championships, which have been held since 2005, will take place in Kisumu, Kenya’s third-largest city. The venue was confirmed by African Cycling Confederation president Yao Allan Kouamé in an interview with RFI.
Kisumu prepares for Africa’s cycling elite
Kouamé said he hopes the organisers can design courses that will suit riders who prefer flatter terrain, while acknowledging Kenya’s reputation for mountainous landscapes. “Some federation presidents have already called me to say that Kenya has many mountains and that the course should not be too difficult,” Kouamé explained. He said the aim is to ensure the African Championships remain accessible to riders with different profiles rather than becoming an overly demanding event.
At least 30 countries expected
Kenya is hosting the continental championships again after several other potential host countries postponed their plans until 2027. According to Kouamé, the event organiser, Golazo, initially contacted several African countries interested in hosting the competition. However, some eventually decided to postpone their bids.
Organisers therefore turned again to Kenya, where Golazo already has an established presence. Kenyan authorities agreed to host the championships for a third consecutive year. For the African Cycling Confederation, the priority is ensuring that the continental championships take place and that new African champions can be crowned.
Around 30 countries competed in the 2025 edition, which followed the World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda. Kouamé is hoping for at least as many participants, if not more, this year.
A pathway to Dakar 2026
The Kisumu championships will also serve as an important preparation event for young African cyclists ahead of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Senegal, scheduled for October 31 to November 13.
The African Cycling Confederation also plans to organise a training camp in Kisumu before the championships, giving young riders an additional opportunity to prepare for the continental competition and the Dakar Games.
With the African Championships and the Youth Olympic Games taking place just days apart, Kisumu could become an important stepping stone for the next generation of African cycling talent.
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