African Cyclists on the Tour d’Afrique

In each country along our route on the Tour d’Afrique we have the pleasure of getting local cyclists join us to ride the portion of the tour that passes through their country.

Some of them are very skilled – completing for and winning stages. Some of them, on the other hand, are not as skilled or fit, and almost all of them lack access to replacement parts, cycling clothing, or tools. Their bikes, as a result, are often aging relics, with resourceful repair work – house clamps holding things together, handmade aero-style racing bars, faded and stretched cycling attire salvaged from who knows where.

Here in Egypt this year (as in many years past) we are joined by some top notch cyclists. They really love the Tour d’Afrique.

Pictured above, from left to right, they are Mohamed Gamal, Ashraf, Sharrif, Mohamed Kamel, and Mohsen. What they would love more than anything is to participate in the entire tour – not just cycling through their own country.

I know that because of the speed at which our cycling expedition moves, because of the language barriers, because of cultural differences, and because of the need to focus on the group as a whole – we often miss out. We miss the opportunity to really engage with our local cyclists. Their time on tour with us is relatively short.

Hopefully someday soon we will be able to find a way to have them as part of the group for the whole tour. It is after all a cycling tour through Africa, and having Africans in our group can only be a positive thing.

Here are a couple more photos from the last few days.

Lunch along the Nile on the way to Idfu.

Ali posing in front of a rail car full of sugar cane.