Tour of Eritrea
Encyclopedia
The Tour of Eritrea is a multiday bicycle race held throughout Eritrea
.
with the Italian name Primo Giro dell'Eritrea.
This first Tour of Eritrea had 34 participants and was won by Nunzio Barilà of the team A.C. Piemonte. It had five stages, with a very difficult Premio della Montagna (Stage of the Mountain).
In 1947 the second Giro dell'Eritrea was not allowed because of political reasons related to a growing guerrilla war in british occupied Eritrea, but instead was done a "small" Giro/Tour, reduced and called "Giro delle 3 Valli" (Tour of the 3 Valleys) that was won by Esmiles Zoli.
In 2001 after a fifty year long hiatus, the Tour was resurrected as celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Eritrean independence. It was won by Habte Weldesimon, who repeated his victory in 2003 and 2004.
The last 2 Tours of Eritrea, in 2007 and 2008, were won by Merhawi Ghebrehiwot.
The last stage (in Asmara, done April 20) was won by Domenico Vaccaro, an Italian Eritrean
, of the team Medeber.
The Tour of Eritrea of 2008 is a bicycle race from the hot desert beaches of Massawa
, up the winding mountain highway with its precipitous valleys and cliffs to the capital Asmara
. From there, it continues downwards onto the western plains of the Gash-Barka Zone, only to return back to Asmara from the south.
This is, by far, the most popular sport in modern Eritrea, followed by many thousands of fans and with nearly 100 professional Eritrean cyclists. Indeed, the Tour of Eritrea is followed entusiastically by the Eritrean population around the roads, like happens in the Tour de France of France
and the Giro d'Italia of Italy
.
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
.
History
The first race was held in 1946 and was promoted by the Italian community of EritreaItalian Eritreans
Italian Eritreans are Eritrean-born descendants of Italian settlers as well as Italian long-term residents in Eritrea.-History:...
with the Italian name Primo Giro dell'Eritrea.
This first Tour of Eritrea had 34 participants and was won by Nunzio Barilà of the team A.C. Piemonte. It had five stages, with a very difficult Premio della Montagna (Stage of the Mountain).
In 1947 the second Giro dell'Eritrea was not allowed because of political reasons related to a growing guerrilla war in british occupied Eritrea, but instead was done a "small" Giro/Tour, reduced and called "Giro delle 3 Valli" (Tour of the 3 Valleys) that was won by Esmiles Zoli.
In 2001 after a fifty year long hiatus, the Tour was resurrected as celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Eritrean independence. It was won by Habte Weldesimon, who repeated his victory in 2003 and 2004.
The last 2 Tours of Eritrea, in 2007 and 2008, were won by Merhawi Ghebrehiwot.
2008 results
PODIUM of the 2008 edition:- Merhawi Ghebrehiwot (team EriTel) with 47.00 points
- Dawit Haile (team Asbeco) with 40.00 points
- Frekalsi Debesay with 37.00 points
The last stage (in Asmara, done April 20) was won by Domenico Vaccaro, an Italian Eritrean
Italian Eritreans
Italian Eritreans are Eritrean-born descendants of Italian settlers as well as Italian long-term residents in Eritrea.-History:...
, of the team Medeber.
Route
Though since the Colonial period the route has changed, today it is a 700 mile race contended in 10 stages. The race covers various geographic regions, including the desert lowlands, the chilly highlands and windy coast.The Tour of Eritrea of 2008 is a bicycle race from the hot desert beaches of Massawa
Massawa
Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa (Ge'ez ምጽዋዕ , formerly ባጽዕ is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate,...
, up the winding mountain highway with its precipitous valleys and cliffs to the capital Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
. From there, it continues downwards onto the western plains of the Gash-Barka Zone, only to return back to Asmara from the south.
This is, by far, the most popular sport in modern Eritrea, followed by many thousands of fans and with nearly 100 professional Eritrean cyclists. Indeed, the Tour of Eritrea is followed entusiastically by the Eritrean population around the roads, like happens in the Tour de France of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Giro d'Italia of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.