Cycling in Uasin Gishu County has received a shot in the arm with renowned marathon coach Gabriele Rosa offering to support the sport.
Rosa, known for supporting various athletes now says he is ready and willing to help train cyclists in the county in preparations for international competitions.
Speaking after meeting a section of cyclists in Eldoret town, the veteran coach noted that Uasin Gishu and Kenya as a whole have a good environment that can help prepare cyclists who can compete at the highest possible stage.
“Kenya is a good country for training. Altitude is the best place to train long distance,” says Gabriele Rosa.
Cycling has long been a neglected sport in Kenya, but according to the veteran coach, it is an area that the country has huge potential.
He named good roads, alongside the right attitude and a combination of hilly, and flat surfaces a near-perfect place for cyclists to do their training.
Training camp
To start the revamp of the sport, Rosa plans to set up a training camp in Kapsait.
“My suggestion is to organize a training camp in Kapsait because it is 3,000-meter altitude. This is very important because white people like to go to 2,000 altitudes,” he notes.
Further, Rosa admits that when he first came into the country, there was no chance for cycling due to poor roads, but with an improvement over the last two decades he has been around – he is convinced it is an area worth investing in.
“At the time I decided to support athletics – that is 20 years ago, it was not possible for cycling. The roads were incredibly roughed road but today it’s perfect,” admits Gabriele Rosa.
The entry of the veteran marathon coach has excited cyclists in Uasin Gishu.
Jared Ochiende a cyclist says it will help nurture more talents and provide an opportunity for them to showcase their abilities on a global stage.
On their own
“This is great for us because, for a long time, we have really yearned for it. We have been on our own. We don’t have sponsors, we buy our own bicycles and also create our own routes, and we also get our coaches here locally,” Ochiende said.
“Someone coming on board to give us that professional touch and support in the same is a big plus for us. We are very excited as young men,” he added.
The cyclists now hope to develop their resilience – learning from the best.
Coach Gabriele Rosa is credited for developing many athletes that have gone from athletics camps to being world champions.
“We can discover young talents because they need to start from a tender age. We can set up a training camp where they can stay like what is happening in athletics,” Rosa said.
Many cyclists hope in the near future, the same will be replicated in cycling.
“We have been training without sponsors, praying to God to open doors for us to get one but today, our dream has come true,” said John Ekuru, a cyclist.
[…] Renowned Marathon Coach Gabriele Rosa to Train Cyclists in Uasin Gishu […]