The national cycling team (Team Rwanda) has arrived in the Gabonese capital of Libreville ahead of the 12th edition of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo that starts on February 27 and runs until March 5.
2017 Stages
Stage 1: Moanda-Akiéni (Feb. 27)Stage 2: Leconi-Franceville (Feb. 28)Stage 3: Mounana-Koulamoutou (Mar, 1)Stage 4: Fougamou-Lambaréné (Mar, 2)Stage 5: Lambaréné-Kango (Mar, 3)Stage 6: Akanda (Cap Estérias)-Libreville (Mar, 4)Stage 7: Owendo-Libreville (Mar, 5)
The national cycling team (Team Rwanda) has arrived in the Gabonese capital of Libreville ahead of the 12th edition of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo that starts on February 27 and runs until March 5.
The team of six male riders left the country on Friday afternoon aboard RwandAir. The delegation is led by the national team assistant coach, Felix Sempoma and it also included Theoneste Karasira (mechanic) and Obed Ruvogera (soigneur).
Rwanda is among the 10 African countries that will participate in the most gruesome cycling event on the UCI Africa Tour—it is the only 2.1 category race on the continent.
The seven- day event will also have four UCI Continental Teams from Europe and one from Asia.
Among the six riders that will carry Rwanda’s flag, five will be making their debut appearance unlike the previous editions where Team Rwanda had been fielding most of its experienced riders.
Fresh from competing at the just concluded African Continental Championship in Luxor, Egypt, the team will be captained by Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, the winner of the competition’s stage five in 2014, which remains Rwanda’s best performance in the race, so far.
Riders who will be making their La Tropicale Amissa Bongo debut include; Rene Ukiniwabo, Alex Nizeyimana, Samuel Hakiruwizeye, Eric Nduwayo and Jeremy Karegeya.
"I can’t say that we are going to win the whole competition because this is a very tough race and keeping in mind the young riders we have taken this year, but I believe we can win one or two stages, this is our objective,” said Sempoma.
The other countries that will participate in the competition include; Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Morocco, Senegal and hosts Gabon.
The five UCI Continental teams include; Direct Energie (France), Delko Marseille Provence Ktm (France), Minsk Cycling Club (Belarus), Interpro Cycling Academy (Japan) and Bike Aid (Germany).
Adrien Petit from Direct Energie is the defending champion.
Last year, Team Rwanda finished in eighth place out of 14 teams, while Patrick Byukusenge finished second in the mountains classification, with Jean Claude Uwizeye finishing third in the junior category.