Rwanda’s Jean Sauveur Ntiyamira has been selected to officiate at the upcoming Africa Cycling Championship due February 9-14 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

In a letter addressed to the Rwanda Cycling Federation president Aimable Bayingana, the Vice President of the International Cycling Union (UCI), Dr Mohammed Wagim Azzam, said that Ntiyamira had been selected on the commissaire panel to officiate in the continent’s premier cycling event.

The 41-year-old started his career back in 2007 in the Tour du Rwanda before he was trained by renowned UCI commissaire Michel Rivieur, in 2009.

In 2010, he officiated at the Africa road cycling championships that was held in Rwanda. In the same year, he was named Tour du Rwanda’s head of refereeing commission. Ntiyamira oversaw the 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Tour du Rwanda editions.

Team Rwanda named

Meanwhile national cycling team coach Jonathan Boyer has named nine riders that will compete in the Africa Cycling Championships.

The team includes senior team (elite men), junior (men) and one female rider.

Seventeen-year-old Samuel Mugisha will compete in the junior category while Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu, 19 will compete in the girls’ category.

The team leaves for South Africa on February 6.

Team Rwanda (elite men): Valens Ndayisenga, Hadi Janvier, Joseph Biziyaremye, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Patrick Byukusenge, Jean Bosco Nsengimana and Emile Bintunimana ; (junior category): Samuel Mugisha; (elite women): Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu.

Staff: Head coach Jonathan ’Jock’ Boyer, Obed Ruvogera (masseur), Kimberly Coats (logistics) and Issa Ntibitura (Mechanical).

editorial@newtimes.co.rw