page_title: Sport in Eritrea
section_title: Cycling
hierarchical_section_title: Sport in Eritrea / Cycling
caption_attribution_description: a_38_7490
context_page_description: Football and cycling are the most popular sports in Eritrea. In recent years, Eritrean athletes have also seen increasing success in the international arena.
context_section_description: Cycling has a long tradition in Eritrea and was first introduced during the colonial period.The Tour of Eritrea, a multi-stage cycling event, is held annually since 1946 throughout the country. 
  The national cycling teams of both men and women are ranked first on the African continent, and ranked amongst one of the best cycling nations in the world. The Eritrea national cycling team has experienced a lot of success, winning the African continental cycling championship several years in a row. In 2013, the women's team won the gold medal in the African Continental Cycling Championships for the first time, and for the second time in 2015 and third time in 2019.  
  Eritrean riders have enjoyed success in local and world championships. The Tour of Eritrea, a multi-stage international cycling event, is held annually throughout the country. Eritrea has produced a number of professional road racing cyclists. As of 2013, there were five Eritrean cyclists competing professionally: Daniel Teklehaymanot, Natnael Berhane, Ferekalsi Debesay, Meron Russom, and Jani Tewelde. Teklehaymanot and fellow Eritrean Merhawi Kudus became the first black African riders to compete in the Tour de France when they were selected by the MTN–Qhubeka team for the 2015 edition of the race.
  In July of the year, Teklehaimanot also became the first rider from an African team to wear the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France.
caption: The team captain for the Eritrean national football team is Henok Goitom
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