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5th Tour of Eritrea - NE
Eritrea, March 18-27, 2005
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Stage 3 - March 21: Asmara - Masawa, 175km
'The big game starts now'
By Oyéshiku Carr
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The Tour of Eritrea is a hard race. Unforgiving roads wreck havoc on equipment and sharp climbs sap strength from already tired legs. Stage 3 was ostensibly a downhill run from Asmara (7700 ft) to Massawa (sea level) but in order to reach the downhill section the riders had to endure 90km of a severe mountainous route. Luckily, the weather in the highlands turned a bit cooler and the Red Sea plains before Massawa, usually a heat anvil, were blanketed with clouds.
Having been thrice bitten by Telecom Eritrea, other teams were eager to animate the race. Telecom's strength, however, is augmented by the by the selflessness of its riders. Michael Tuku (Telecom), the race leader, when asked if he was a protected rider only smiled and said that it was his role to ensure a team strategy.
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Seventy-eight riders started from Asmara along the rolling road to Decamhare. Muse Tekleab (Telecom), national TT champion and prologue winner, escaped with an early attack that gained a minute on the peleton before being pulled back. A rider who rarely smiles, Muse was not discouraged and launched a second move on the long descent out of Decamhare that initiated the winning break.
About 5km before Kesat Kesala, the steep climb from Mai Harbab to Nefasit, Muse was joined by his teammates Malacai Kassai and Michael Tuku with Beyene Negassi (Red Sea) and Simon Semere (As.be.co) tagging along. With the race leader in the break, one expected the peleton to react but such is the strength of Telecom that three Teles 'in fuga' constitutes a jailbreak. Behind them the race shattered on the 4km Kesat Kesala ascent and did not re-assemble.
Five teams not represented in the break tried to organise a chase group with team Adulis, working hard to close the gap, but with four Telecom riders, four Red Sea riders, and three As.be.co squad members among with them, foiling co-operation, no time was made up on the break, which increased its lead to 3.30 minutes by the final 10km. That was the winning margin for Michael Tuku, who again unleashed his devastating sprint off the wheel of Simon Semere to win his second stage. Beyene Negassi held on for third place, foiling Telecom's attempt for a consecutive sweep of the podium.
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Dutchman Erik Ruesing (Marco Polo Cycling Club), his legs finally under him, finished comfortably within the time cut off. He was in contact with the main field on Kesat Kesala until a crash interrupted his momentum. Eritrea's roads turn 'every stone into a knife' he said but he is quickly becoming one of the more recognized and cherished riders in this year's field. Tomorrow's stage involves a return trip up the escarpment from Massawa to Asmara in just 115 km.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Oyeshiku Carr
- Erik Ruesing (marco polo)
- Team Wina riders
- Race leader Michael Tuku (Telecom) and Mere Tabtedros(as.be.co)
- Team Telecom
- Telecom on the road to Massawa
- anas.be.co.in the chase group
- Red Sea and as.be.co riders on the red sea flats.
- Malacai Kassai (Telecom) second on stage 3
- Stage 3 winner Michael Tuku (Telecom)
- Erik Ruesing (marcopolo) post stage
- Beyene Negassi (Red Sea) third on stage 3
- Muse Tekleab (Telecom) points leader after stage 3
- Michael Tuku (Telecom) race leader after stage 3
Results
1 Michael Tuku (Telecom Eritrea) 2 Malacai Kassai (Telecom Eritrea) 3 Beyene Negassi (Red Sea) 4 Simon Semere (As.be.co) 5 Muse Tekleab (Telecom) General Classification after stage 3 1 Michael Tuku (Telecom Eritrea) 2 Beyene Negassi (Red Sea) 3 Malacai Kassai (Telecom Eritrea) 4 Simon Semere (As.be.co) 5 Muse Tekleab (Telecom)
