Moroccan cyclists Achraf Ed-Doghmi and Adil El Arbaoui were nominated as two of the fifteen nominees for the 2023 African Cyclist Award, Tour du Gabon (Tropicale Amissa Bongo) organizers announced.
Ed-Doghmi, who is ranked 3rd among African cyclists, and El Arbaoui, who is ranked 5th, were selected after a remarkable season that led to the qualification of the Moroccan national team for the upcoming Olympic Games (Paris 2024), according to the Moroccan Cycling Federation (FRMC).
The list of nominees also includes Eritrean Henok Mulueberhan, the top-ranked African cyclist who rides in Italy, and Biniam Girmay, who is 2nd in the continental rankings and who has won the award for the past three years.
The jury, chaired by five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault, is comprised of former African cyclists, coaches, and African and European journalists.
Established in 2012, the African Cyclist Award is bestowed annually and aims to recognize the cyclist who has contributed most profoundly to promoting the sport of cycling through his/her actions in Africa and throughout the world.
The winner of the 2023 prize will be announced on December 14th.