The cycling world mourns the death of the young Eritrean cyclist Desiet Kidane Tekeste at the age of 21. According to the French portal Direct Vélo, Kidane was training near Asmara (Eritrea) on Monday when she was hit by a car.
The news of the death of Kidane has shocked the world of cycling and more cruelly if possible to the International Cycling Union, since the runner was part of the group that trains at the World Cycling Center in the facilities that the UCI has at its headquarters in Aigle (Switzerland).
“Desiet. With her permanent smile, kindness, respect and deep passion for cycling, Desiet Kidane Tekeste was one of our young talents who will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues and coaches at the World Cycling Center in these tragic moments,” said the UCI through its social networks.
Desiet 💙
With her constant smile, kindness, respect and deep passion for cycling, Desiet Kidane Tekeste 🇪🇷 was a rising young talent who will be greatly missed.
Our thoughts are with her family, friends and @WCC_Cycling teammates and coaches during this tragic time. pic.twitter.com/6xve9QDV6i
– UCI (@UCI_cycling) November 9, 2021
Kidane jumped to the front page of cycling when she was proclaimed African road and chrono champion in junior category in 2018 before taking the podium in the senior category in the time trial of the 2019 championships.
That drew attention of the World Cycling Center team, which gave her the opportunity to train with them and compete in numerous races in Europe until in 2021 she has been a regular in races in France and Belgium, achieving her best result in La Périgord Ladies with an eighteenth place.