United Kingdom-based cyclist Skye Davidson put up an impressive show to finish overall fifth in the elite women’s race at the 18th African Road Cycling Championship in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on Sunday.
Davidson was one of the five athletes that represented the country at the 2022 edition of the continental championships including Amoin Ryamonde, Helen Mitchell, Amos Chakaza and Advocate Phiri.
But it was the former University of Edinburgh student who caught the eye with a brilliant show which saw her come agonisingly close to scooping a podium finish in the gruelling 85.8 km race.
Davidson finished behind winner Egyptian Ebtissam Zayed, Kimberley de Billot (Mauritius) Awa Bomogo (Burundi) and Nesrine Houili from Algeria
The Zimbabwean cyclist who graduated with a Bachelor Of Science Degree with Honors in Astro-Physics from the University of Edinburgh last year had set up a successful GoFundMe campaign to raise 1500 pounds to cover expenses for the trip to Egypt.
Compatriots Ryamonde and Mitchell were 14th and 21st in a 31-member field at the finish line.
In the men’s elite category Zimbabwean Phiri finished 41st out of 44 athletes.
Earlier in the event, Ryamonde and Mitchell had competed in the 29.4km individual time trial with Mitchell coming in 11th place while Ryamonde was 16th out of 19 athletes.
Chakaza also competed in the elite men’s individual time trial and he was 23rd out of 24 athletes.
The UCI Africa Championships ran from March 23-28 in the North African country.