Mozambique National Cycling Team

Ok everyone, here is the long-awaited photo of the Mozambique cycling team that will be taking part in the All Africa Games Xth edition Maputo 2011.

Photo by Abub Ibraimo

The team is composed of (from left to right):

Gustavo da Silva - U23 champion in 2010- and two wins in the Copa Ciclismo 2011 as well as coming second in the first ever Mozambique National Road Championship in February of this year . He started cycling competitively last year and has managed to establish himself as a strong climber. After the games he's off to Portugal to start his University studies, and we hope, continuing to cycle as well.

Alvaro (Zeca) Alves da Cunha - Twice Copa Ciclismo winner (2006 & 7), with 11 individual race wins, including the latest Corrida da Cidade race, which was 6 loops of the Africa Games race course. He has been living in the UK for the past few years where he's been training for these upcomming games.

Mussa Rashid - Cyclist from northern Mozambique, where he works as a teacher. Came 2nd and 3rd in the last two copa races, showing strength as a breakaway artist. Also came 3rd in the National time trial championship in February of this year.

Miguel Teixeira - Current Mozambican Road Champion, which he won in February of this year when they were staged for the first time. 13 copa wins to his tally, as well as and coming 2nd overall in the Copa Ciclismo in 2010. Came 4th in his age group category at the Gran Fondo Eddy Merckx in Portugal this year, where he's been training for the last 6 months for the African Games.

Joao António (Betinho) Cuambe - Owner of the Betinho Bikes shop in Maputo, he's won 9 Copa Ciclismo races over the years and is an accomplished climber as well as criterium racer.

Vicente Mafumo - Bicycle mecchanic working at Santa Marta in Maputo, he's taken part in 41 copa races, having won one of them. Also a breakaway artist, his shiny new shoes and bike should give him the edge in the upcomming races.


The team will be taking part in the following races at the Africa Games:

Individual time trail (8th September) 26.4km
Miguel Teixeira
Alvaro Alves da Cunha

Team time trial (9th September) 40km
Gustavo da Silva
Mussa Rashid
Betinho Cuambe
Vicente Mafumo

Road race (11th September) 146km
All riders

Team equipment:
CKT bikes, 258 and 268 models with CKT components
Team uniforms and gloves produced by PANDA South Africa
Shoes by SIDI
Helmets by RUDY


We wish the team all the best in the upcoming races, that they play fair, show good sportsmanship and above all fight all the way to the finish line for the best possible result. We are the underdogs in these games, and with countries like Eritrea, South Africa, Morocco, Namibia and Zimbabwe, it is going to be tough.

However the beauty of cycling is that the strongest doesn't necessarily win, because it's not just about being the "strongest". Legs, mind and luck will all be ingredients that will determine the winners of the races.

For our team to have made it thus far, and be on the startline with their new bikes and kit and fighting spirit, wanting to give the Mozambican public a show they won't forget, that is already a victory for our team and for our cycling. We hope that the legacy of these games will be a renewed interest in cycling, that will stimulate more people to take up the sport and maintain the long history which only lately has seen a resurgance after years of neglect during the civil war years.

Vuna Maningue! Pedal Lots!