The organizers of the Tropicale, Gabon’s premier cycling tour, have revealed the nominees for the 2015 African Cyclist of the Year award. Established in 2012, this prestigious accolade recognises the best riders on the continent, celebrating their achievements across national and international competitions.
This year, twenty cyclists have been shortlisted, reflecting the growing depth of African cycling talent. Eritrea, a nation known for producing world-class riders, features prominently with three nominees: Natnael Berhane, Daniel Teklehaimanot, and Merhawi Kudus. Mekseb Debesay, last year’s recipient of the award, is also among those in contention, aiming to defend his title.
Other strong contenders include Rwanda’s Jean Bosco Nsengimana, who impressed this year by claiming victory at the 2015 Tour of Rwanda, demonstrating his climbing and endurance abilities. Morocco’s Mouhssine Lahsaini is also a formidable candidate, having won multiple events this year, including the Tour de Côte d’Ivoire and the Tour du Faso, showcasing his consistency across stage races.
North Africa and Southern Africa are represented as well, with Algeria’s Adil Barbari and Abdelkader Belmokhtar, and South Africa’s Daryl Impey and Louis Meintjes, reflecting the continent-wide talent pool. Tunisia’s Rafaa Chtioui, Cameroon’s Clovis Kamzong, and Morocco’s Salah Eddine Mraouni round out a diverse list that spans both rising stars and established performers.
The full list of nominees is as follows: Adil Barbari, Abdelkader Belmokhtar, Natnael Berhane, Rafaa Chtioui, Jacques J. van Rensburg, Clovis Kamzong, Merhawi Kudus, Mekseb Debesay, Daryl Impey, Mouhssine Lahsaini, Tsgabu Grmay, Louis Meintjes, Soufiane Hadi, Salah Eddine Mraouni, Youcef Reguigui, Valens Ndayisenga, Jean-Bosco Nsengimana, Rasmané Ouedraogo, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, and Daniel Teklehaimanot.
The Tropicale organisers emphasised that the award celebrates not only victories but also consistency, sportsmanship, and contribution to African cycling. With the continent producing more riders competing in Europe’s professional circuits, the African Cyclist of the Year title has become an increasingly prestigious benchmark for excellence.
Voting and the selection process will take into account results from the riders’ performance throughout 2015, including continental tours, stage races, and international competitions. Observers note that this year’s shortlist is particularly competitive, with several riders having multiple stage wins and overall titles to their names, reflecting the dynamic growth of cycling across Africa.
The winner will be announced during a ceremony scheduled later this year, where the Tropicale organisers will celebrate African cycling’s achievements and honour the athlete deemed to have made the greatest impact on the sport over the past season.
As African cycling continues to rise in prominence on the global stage, awards such as this play a key role in recognising talent, motivating younger riders, and promoting the sport across the continent. The 2015 African Cyclist of the Year promises to be a hotly contested title, with several riders well positioned to claim the prestigious honour.
