Saturday

Farmers’ circuit (Kigali & Kayonza-Nyagatare)

CategoriesMen Elites & U23: Kigali (KIM) - Nyagatare (152km)Juniors: Kayonza-Nyagatare (88km)Women: Kayonza-Nyagatare (88km)

Club Benediction rider Jean Bosco Nsengimana will be looking to extend his lead when the second race of this year’s Rwanda Cycling Cup gets underway on Saturday.

The second race of the third edition of the annual competition will set off from Kigali for Elite Men &U23 and Kayonza for juniors and women, all heading to Nyagatare District in the Eastern Province.

Unlike the first race, dubbed ‘Memorial Lambert Byemayire’ that attracted 51 riders from seven clubs, the Farmer’s Circuit will attract a total of 78 riders from eight clubs following the addition of Karongi Vision Sports Centre that will enter five cyclists.

Former Germany Bike Aid rider Nsengimana, vying to win his first Rwanda Cycling Cup title in three attempts, will be seeking to build on his outstanding performance during the Memorial Lambert Byemayire race in early April.

The 2015 Tour du Rwanda champion finished ahead of teammate Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, while Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana’s Rene Jean Paul Ukiniwabo came in third place.

He covered the 191km race in 4 hours, 14 minutes and 19 seconds while Uwizeyimana, formerly with South Africa’s Dimension Data for Qhubeka, used 4 hours, 15 minutes and 47 seconds while first-rising Ukiniwabo clocked 4 hours and 17 seconds.

"I feel I am back to my top form and the target is to win the whole competition (Rwanda Cycling Cup). I know the route quite well and hopefully I can stretch the lead on Saturday,” Nsengimana told Saturday Sport yesterday.

The Elites Men &U23 will start from Kigali Institute of Management (KIM), covering a distance of 152 kilometers while the juniors and women category will race from Kayonza to Nyagatare, covering 88 kilometres.

In the first race, reigning champion Eric Manizabayo (Club Benediction) won the juniors’ category that covered 92 kilometers from Muhanga to Huye plus a circuit of three laps after posting 2h:25’:50”.

Meanwhile, Rwanda’s most decorated female rider, Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu, claimed the women category that attracted five riders, all from Les Amis Sportifs.

Les Amis Sportif were the only club with female riders (five), however this time, two more clubs have entered the race, they are; Cine Elmay and Rwanda Eagles Cycling Team.

Les Amis Sportif will field seven riders, while Rwanda Eagles Cycling Team (four) and Cine Elmay will have three riders, which takes the number of female competitors to 14.

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