5th Tour of Eritrea - NE

Eritrea, March 18-27, 2005

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Stage 8 - March 27: Asmara Criterium, 120km

Tuku and Telecom on Top

By Oyéshiku Carr

Michael Tuku (Telecom), race winner
Photo ©: Oyeshiku Carr

51 survivors of the Tour of Eritrea set out for what they hoped would be a few victory laps around Bat Meskerem, the national square, on today's final stage. Teams had been decimated over the past eight days, especially Massawa, Gash Barka, and Vivi, who were each left with only a few riders to represent them on the last day. They among others hoped that today's stage would be slow and easy. Unfortunately other teams were hunting for a stage victory and so the race was on.

The first 50 laps saw a series of short lived breaks, but with about 30 laps to race Samuel Debesai (Hidri) escaped the main field, which was under the control of Michael Tuku and his Telecom teammates, for over ten laps. Assistance came too late in the form of Simon Semere (As.be.co) and Semere Menghis (Telecom) and the break was captured with 18 laps to go. At 12 laps, a rider of no threat to the GC challengers, Bimnet Meretab (Wina), escaped from the peleton. No one followed, and he built up a lead of over twenty seconds on the short fast course. With six laps remaining he was joined by Filmon Hapte (Zula) and Mabratu Gebremeskin (Hamalait) and with riders from three teams desperate for a win driving at the front, the break increased its lead to nearly thirty seconds. Bimnet confided later that he was a little worried about Filmon's fast sprint heading down the final straight, but not being one to let a little trepidation overcome him he charged off the front of the trio for the stage win and a big victory for his team.

Bimnet takes the sprint
Photo ©: Oyeshiku Carr

Michael Tuku won the bunch sprint by enough to sit up and mock his signature. "Today was a hard day," he said because Telecom had to defend against the early breaks and protect the positions of Michael Misghena and Muse Tekleab. He looked relieved at the conclusion of the stage, enthusiastically claiming his first Tour of Eritrea title.

Eric Reusing (Marco Polo), still suffering from the after effects of his Stage 5 crash, retired early during today's race. The short course, which required lots of sprinting out of the corners, aggravated his sore back. "I would like to come back next year," he said "and next time be more competitive." Let's hope he will return with some team-mates for next year's race.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Oyeshiku Carr

Results

1 Bimnet Meretab (Wina)                   
2 Filmon Hapte (Zula)                     
3 Mebratu Gebremeskin (Hamalait)          
4 Michael Tuku (Telecom Eritrea)          
5 Ephraim Abraham (As.be.co)              
 
Final General Classification
 
1 Michael Tuku (Telecom Eritrea)        53 pts
2 Michael Mishgena (Telecom Eritrea)    45
3 Muse Tekleab (Telecom Eritrea)        42
4 Israel Abraham (Red Sea)              34
5 Malacai Kasai (Telecom)               30
6 Aklilou Haile (Adulis)                26
7 Ephraim Abraham (As.be.co)            24
8 Abraham Haile (Telecom Eritrea)       18
9 Bimnet Meretab (Wina)                 17
10 Yonas Zerai (Telecom Eritrea)        16
11 Meron Russom (As.be.co)              15
12 Simon Semere (As.be.co)              15
13 Fanus Tsegai (Zoba Debub)            15
14 Mateos Zerai (Red Sea)               14
15 Isaias Woldetesai (Red Sea)          13
16 Beyene Negasse (Red Sea)             12
17 Michael Tesfayohanes (Hidri)         11
18 Meretab Tedros (As.be.co)            10
19 Ammanuel Abraham (Zula)               9
20 Fikadu Tamarat (Gash Barka)           9
 
Final Team Clasification
 
1 Telecom Eritrea                      177 pts
2 Red Sea                               74
3 As.be.co                              69
4 Adulis                                43
5 Wina                                  22
6 Zoba Debub                            21
7 Hidri                                 20
 
Final Mountains Classification
 
1 Michael Misghena (Telecom Eritrea)    27 pts
2 Muse Tekleab (Telecom Eritrea)        21
3 Aklilou Haile (Adulis)                19
4 Ephraim Abraham (As.be.co)            16
5 Beyene Negasse (Red Sea)              12
 
Final Sprint Classification
 
1 Michael Tuku (Telecom Eritrea)        53 pts
2 Michael Mishgena (Telecom Eritrea)    45
3 Muse Tekleab (Telecom Eritrea)        42
4 Israel Abraham (Red Sea)              34
5 Malacai Kasai (Telecom)               30