5th Tour of Eritrea - NE

Eritrea, March 18-27, 2005

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Stage 5 - March 24: Asmara - Barentu, 237km

A Day for Little David

By Oyéshiku Carr

Fanus Tsegai (Zoba Debeb)
Photo ©: Oyeshiku Carr

Stage 5 from Asmara to Barentu was the Tour of Eritrea's longest stage. Paradoxically, a race destined to end on the scorching Gash Barka plains started in very cool, almost cold weather in Asmara. With huge descents and almost no climbing, heat and distance were the principle obstacles for today's 70 starters.

Smaller teams having ridden increasingly well over the past two stages finally made their move today against the mighty Telecom goliath that owns the top four spots on GC. The early action was provided by Ammanuel Werede (Wina) who built up a lead over six minutes on the rolling road into Keren. On the 15 km descent of Libetigray, the chase was broken up into several groups with the strong teams: Telecom, As.be.co. and Red Sea and the strong riders: Michael Tuku (Telecom), Meretab Tedros (As.be.co), Michael "Botero" Misghena (Telecom), and Israel Abraham (Red Sea) effecting the capture of Ammanuel on the descent of Tukulhas on the far side of Keren.

Erik Reusing (Marco Polo)
Photo ©: Oyeshiku Carr

A three man group made up of representatives of three small teams immediately shot out of the lead group. Fanus Tsegai (Zoba Debub) was joined by Kudu Tamarat (Gash Barka) and Yobel Teklesembet (Zula) with Fanus, especially, driving hard on the front. With less than 40 km to race this trio had built up a lead of over eight minutes with Telecom, As.be.co., and Red Sea disinterested in chasing down riders who posed no GC threat in the midday Gash Barka heat.

Kudu Tamarat hoped to please his hometown with a win, especially after having suffered on the climbs in the thin highland air, and clung to Fanus on roads that he knew from many training rides. Yobel having given his all lost contact on the run up to the Fikadu climb when Fanus, who looked fresh all day, struck with a sudden acceleration with 10 km to go. Kudu followed by sheer act of the will as he was clearly tiring. Finally, despite the exhortations from his team vehicle he lost hold of Fanus' wheel in the last twenty meters up the 8 km Fikadu that brought the riders into Barentu. Fanus sprinted away to grab the mountains points and win the stage alone with Kudu coming in over a minute in arrears to the cheering of his home crowd.

The heat depleted peloton subsequently arrived in small packs and bunches. Israel Abraham, the third place finisher, was more than three minutes behind the winner and the first Telecom rider arrived at almost four minutes. Race leader Michael Tuku arrived over ten minutes later but held on to the leader's jersey and is assured of keeping it through tomorrows 40 km TTT from outside Barentu to Agordat.

Eric "pitbull" Reusing (Marco Polo) overcame a crash and a flat tire today to finish near the back of the main field. Fighting back for nearly 20 km he re-joined the peloton with 20 km to race and held on until the ascent of the Fikadu. "I was happy for the climb," he said "because I knew it meant the stage was almost over." Being used to winter time in Holland he must have suffered in the heat but with three days left to race his chances at completing the race look good.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Oyeshiku Carr

Erik Ruesing (Marco Polo)
Ammanuel Werede (Wina) in the early break
Tesfit Tehubo (Vivi) on the move
Erik Reusing (Marco Polo) down but not out
Erik Reusing (Marco Polo) let the chase begin
A Gigante rider tries to regain the peloton
The peloton surviving the heat
Erik Reusing (Marco Polo) does his turn
Fanus Tsegai (Zoba Debeb) driving the break
Erik Reusing (Marco Polo) pushes on
Yobel Teklesembet (Zula) loses contact
Kudu Tamarat (Gash Barka) second place finisher
The Gash Barka home crowd

Results

1 Fanus Tsegai (Zoba Debub)              
2 Kudu Tamarat (Gash Barka)       1.00
3 Israel Abraham (Red Sea)               
4 Yonas Zerai (Telecom Eritrea)          
5 Abraham Haile (Telecom Eritrea)        
 
General classificaiton after stage 5
 
1 Michael Tuku (Telecom Eritrea)         
2 Michael Mishgena (Telecom Eritrea)     
3 Muse Tekleab (Telecom Eritrea)         
4 Israel Abraham (Red Sea)               
5 Malacai Kassai (Telecom Eritrea)