Merhawi Kudus, 31 years old last week (23 January), is one of the first group of true pioneers from Africa to make it in professional cycling, and inspire a whole new generation like Biniam Girmay, Natnael Tesfatsion and Henok Mulubrhan to aspire and succeed.
Merhawi first began as a pro cyclist in France in 2013 with the Bretagne – Séché Environnement team, before being recruited onto the MTN-Qhubeka Pro Conti Team for the 2014 season. This was a ground-breaking team, with 19 of the 27-man squad hailing from Africa. Merhawi rode alongside riders like Daniel Telkehaimanot (Eritrea), Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwanda), Tsgabu Grmay (Ethiopia), Youcef Reguigui (Algeria) and several South Africans such as Louis Meintjes, Jacques Janse van Rensburg and Songezo Jim.
Merhawi stayed on that team for five seasons to 2018, with a key highlight being second in the 2017 edition of the Vuelta a España. He then transferred to the Astana World Tour team (current home of his countryman Henok Mulubrhan) for three seasons – winning the Tour of Rwanda in 2019.
This was followed by two seasons with the EF Education – EasyPost team. In 2024 he dropped down to the Continental level, with the Terengganu Team (current home in 2025 of Stefan de Bod – South Africa) and one could easily be fooled into thinking this is the sadly inevitable moment in all sportspeople’s careers when its time to ease off a little. Not for Merhawi though…
He had a brilliant 2024 racing for Terengganu all over the world, and this got him noticed by the Bugos Burpellet BH Team, who have signed him on a two-year deal until 2026. Truly deserved as he still has so much to give for his team, his team-mates, his country Eritrea, and Africa as a whole.
We caught up with Merhawi in Mallorca on the eve of the Trofeo Calvia to talk about his 2025 plans:
“I cannot imagine I have been thirteen seasons as a professional cyclist! It is good that you remind me you know! It feels like last year, those first years. This year I join the Burgos Burpellet BH Team, it is a typical Spanish team, different atmosphere from where I have been for the last ten years, so I am learning new language, cultures, everything, and so far I really like the team.
[Regarding his targets for 2025:] In general the team have a big focus on the Vuelta a España, to be good there, and we are going to fight every single race for points. Personally, I am focused on Tour of Oman, Tour of Turkey and some specific races and I am going to work hard for it!”
Merhawi is also probably going to return to Kigali and race the 2025 Tour of Rwanda for the Eritrean National Team (TBC at this time).
You can watch this interview on our YouTube or TikTok channels.
