Teenage riders dominated the just concluded National Cycling Championships over the weekend with remarkable performances in a display of talent, hard work and determination.

In the men’s road race competition on Sunday, 19-year-old Joseph Aleluya emerged winner of the U-23 category and also finished second in the general classification, micro seconds behind winner Joseph Biziyaremye of Cine Elmay cycling club of Nyamirambo.

Aleluya, who rides for Amis Sportifs club in Rwamagana, has greatly improved since the start of the Rwanda Cycling Cup earlier this year, winning the Kivu race from Muhanga to Rubavu, a total distance of 138km.

The 19-year-old expressed contentment at his performance and said, "I am really impressed with my performance even though I wanted to win. I have been working hard and it is evident from my recent results. I want to get better every other day and I will continue to work hard.”

His club teammate, 21-year old Jean Claude Uwizeye also from Rwamagana was second in the U-23 category and fifth overall while Benediction’s Camera Hakuzimana (22 years) settled for sixth position.

Uwizeye had earlier led a breakaway in Kamonyi before another youngster Jeremie Karegeya (22) sprinted off in the hills before the descent to Muhanga to stretch a one-minute lead ahead of the second peloton led by his elder brother Nathan Byukusenge.

Karegeya was fourth in the U-23 category and ninth in the general classification while Amis Sportifs’ 19-year old Ephrem Tuyishimire was fifth in the U-23 category and 10th in the general classification in the national competition that attracted 34 riders from seven clubs including Amis Sportifs, Benediction, Cine Elmay, Cycling For All, Fly, MTN Qhubeka and Kiramuruzi.

Whilst Aleluya, Uwizeye, Hakuzimana and Karegeya are already training with the national team at the Africa Rising Cycling Centre in Musanze, Tuyishimire is hoping to make it to the high performance centre as he eyes a place on the national side.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw