Five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault heads the jury that will select the best African cyclist of 2014. So far, they have announced the five finalists who are still in contention for the honour of succeeding Natnael Berhane and Louis Mentjes on the list and both have the chance to win again

The trophy which has been introduced by the organizers of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo which will be held in Gabon from February 16-22, will reward an African rider that has improved the image and development of cycling in Africa with dis "results" and his "personal influence."

Berhane is the current winner of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo and reigning Eritrean national champion Meintjes is national hampion of Soth African at both the elite and the U23 level. He won a stage in the Mzansi Tour and has achieved notable results like an eighth place in the U23 time trial world championships in Ponferrada and fifth in the Camperona stage of the Vuelta a Espana that was won by Ryder Hesjedal.

In addition to Berhane and Meintjes, the presence of Mekseb Debesay on the list is notable. This year the Eritrean won the UCI Africa Tour thanks to his final victories in Algeria and Chantal Biya and stage wins in Rwanda.

Moroccan Mouhssine Lahsaini was second in the UCI Africa Tour, and won the Challenge Marche Verte and Challenge du Prince.

The fifth candidate is the Rwandan Valens Ndayisenga who is double national champion and recent winner of the general classification and a stage in his home tour.

The best African rider of the season will be announced in the final week of the year.