As reported by the Burgos-BH team on 17 September, they have signed the highly experienced Eritrean professional cyclist Merhawi Kudus on a two year deal, running to the end of 2026.
This is a fantastic moment for the 30 year old Eritrean, having left the World Tour-level EF Cycling team at the end of 2023 and raced the 2024 season at the Pro Conti level with the Terengganu Cycling Team.
Merhawi had a great season with Terengganu, racing around the world with races in Oman, Rwanda, China, Japan, as well as back home where he took a strong 5th place in the Eritrean National Champs Road Race – one of the most fiercely fought editions in history (he won this race in 2022).
We caught up with Merhawi to hear this thoughts on his new contract:
“Hello to all the followers of Team Africa Rising! Last year it was really good to be back in the pro peloton, I am so so happy to get a new contract and hopefully next year I can still show my abilities and potential.
I really want to say thank you to the Terengganu Cycling Team because they picked me in a difficult time, as this time last year I did not have a team. After this disappointment, they really supported me and took me to a lot of races and gave me a lot of support so I could continue racing at a high level.
I would like to also thank Burgos-DH Team for the opportunity and I am definitely very happy to be back in the pro peloton with them for the next two years.”
Merhawi is one of the original group of black African riders that burst into the top level of cycling back in 2014/15 on Doug Ryder’s MTN-Qhubeka/Team Dimension Data squads, alongside pioneers like Adrien Niyonshuti, Tsgabu Grmay, Songezo Jim, Daniel Teklehaimanot, Natnael Berhane and Mekseb Debesay.
This team, and these riders, paved the way for riders like Biniam Girmay, Henok Mulubrhan and others to go to the next level and start winning stages at World Tour races!
You can see Merhawi’s full palmares on our partner ProCyclingStats website here: Merhawi Kudus Profile.
We wish Merhawi a successful and accident-free 2025 season! #AfricaRising
