Rwanda Cycling Cup: Tour du Rwanda preparation races

Today Musanze – Karongi (135.8k)

Sunday Karongi – Rubavu (95.1km)

TWENTY riders who are currently undergoing rigorous training for this year’s Tour du Rwanda will today be out to impress and prove to the national team coaches why they deserve a slot to represent the country at the upcoming 10th edition of the annual race.

Rwanda will be represented by three teams namely; Team Rwanda, Club Benediction and Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana – of five riders each.

Ahead of the highly anticipated 2018 Tour du Rwanda, scheduled for August 5-12, Rwanda Cycling Federation (Ferwacy) has organised two warm-up races as part of this year’s Rwanda Cycling Cup series. However, they will only be contested by the 20 riders based at the Africa Rising Cycling Center (ARCC) in Musanze district.

The two races are meant to give the riders a taste of two, out of five, new stage routes this year.

This will also be Tour du Rwanda’s last edition as a UCI 2.2 race before its upgrade to 2.1 effective next year – becoming one of the only two African cycling events with the 2.1 badge.

Initially, the residential camp started with 18 riders before the addition of two youngsters – Jean Paul Niyigena from Muhazi Cycling Generation and Jean Claude Mfitumukiza from Cycling Club for All – following the two riders’ impressive runs in recent domestic races.

Meanwhile, today’s race will be flagged-off from Musanze in the Northern Province via Rutsiro district to Karongi in Western Province, covering a distance of 135.8km. It is the same route that will be used during Tour du Rwanda’s Stage 4 on August 8.

On Sunday, riders will discover the Karongi – Rubavu route, a 95.1-kilometre long course that will also be used during Stage 5 come August 9.

Among others, Stage 1 is another new stage route this year, a 104-kilometre circuit around Rwamagana town that will mark the first time that the country’s biggest sporting event starts outside the capital since 2009 when the race was affiliated to UCI Africa Tour.

20-riders list in camp

Innocent Niyireba, Jean Paul Rene Ukiniwabo, Sept Hakizimana, Eric Manizabayo, Jean Rubwera, Ephrem Tuyishimire, Samuel Hakiruwizeye, Janvier Rugamba, Didier Hakizimana, Moise Mugisha, Josepth Shema, Jean Bosco Nsengimana and Patrick Byukusenge

Others are; Mike Uwiduhaye, Bonaventure Uwizeyemana, Janvier Hadi, Gasore Hatageka, Eric Nduwayo, Jean Paul Niyigena and Jean Claude Mfitumukiza.

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