‎‎The national Under-23 cycling champion Ivan Kipruto is preparing for a golden run in Sunday's 175.2km race at the CAC Road Cycling African Championships in Kisumu.

The 20-year-old will make his third appearance at the championships, hoping to turn the experience gained in Eldoret in 2024 and Diani last year into a maiden medal.

Kipruto finished 64th in Eldoret before improving to 40th in Diani, and believes he is now ready to challenge for the top honours.

“This will be my third time racing at the African championships. I have been slowly getting experience and I think this is my chance now to strike for gold,” he said.

The Kenyan says race positioning, pack dynamics and tactical awareness will be crucial in the demanding contest.

“The most important thing is to learn how to position yourself. You need to be at the front of the pack in all laps because once you find yourself at the back, you will put more effort into sprinting, which drains you,” he said.

Kipruto heads into the championships in confident mood after winning the men's U23 national 110km road race title in Kericho on June 21. He clocked 2:45:29, establishing himself as one of Kenya's riders to watch.

“Coming here as the Kenyan national champion, all Kenyan riders will be looking up to me, so I have the morale to strive for my best,” he said.

He expects stiff competition from cycling powerhouses Eritrea, South Africa and Ethiopia but is confident he can match them, having competed against them on European circuits this season.

“We have raced with them in European races and, at the moment, I think my level and their level are somehow the same. The only difference may be their strategy,” he said.

Kipruto has gained international experience through gravel races in Spain, France and Monaco. He opened his 2026 campaign with 38th place at the 97km UCI Gravel World Series race in Castellón, Spain, before finishing 34th in the 120km Monaco Gravel Race on April 19.

To prepare for Sunday's race, he has completed endurance rides of up to 200km, building the stamina needed to tackle the 175.2km course.

He expects Kisumu's faster course to present a different challenge from the routes in Eldoret and Diani, particularly because of its sharp corners.

“This Kisumu course will be faster, unlike in Eldoret and Diani. However, it will present a challenge because of the sharp corners,” he said.

Kipruto believes Kenya's week-long training on the course and favourable weather will boost the home team's medal prospects.

He also welcomed the opportunity to field a larger squad as hosts, saying the additional teammates could improve Kenya's chances of winning medals.