Sept. 24: Women Elite individual Time Trial Sept. 25: Men Elite individual Time Trial Sept. 26: Women Elite road race Sept. 27: Men Elite road race
Travel restrictions in the European Schengen area could hammer Team Rwanda’s chances of participating at the forthcoming 2020 UCI Road World Championships slated for September 24-27 in Imola and the Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Times Sport understands.
The 2020 edition of the annual event, the world’s biggest cycling event, was initially scheduled for September 20-27 in Aigle and Martigny, Switzerland, but the world cycling body (UCI) was forced to move the competition to another country following the Swiss Federal Council’s ban on events convening more than 1000 people.
Imola and the Emilia-Romagna won the hosting rights after overcoming close competition from Peccioli and Alba Adriatica (both Italy) as well as Haute-Saone (France) in the bidding process.
This year’s world championships will only comprise the elite categories – time trial and road race – in men’s and women’s category.
Emmanuel Murenzi, Permanent Secretary of the local cycling body (Ferwacy), says that the national cycling team ‘Team Rwanda’ has been training but chances of making it to Italy for the races are minimal because Rwandans, like all African nationals, are not yet allowed to travel to the Schengen Area, including Italy, for entertainment or sports purposes due to Covid-19.
"On our part, we are ready for the competition but we can’t access Schengen visas as per their travel restrictions for Rwandans traveling in the area for sports and entertainment purposes,” said Murenzi. "We are planning to talk to the organising committee or UCI so any assistance so our riders can get visas in time for the trip.”
Should Team Rwanda get visas, three riders will represent the country – one in men’s road race and two in Individual Time Trial.
The men’s elite road race will be a gruesome 259.5km ride with a climb of about 5,000 metres.
‘Alternative’ in Mugisha
Murenzi, however, has also noted that if the team fails to secure visas, Ferwacy will get Samuel Mugisha registered as Rwanda’s only representative at the world championships.
The 23-year old, winner of the 2018 Tour du Rwanda, is based in France after joining his new side LMP–La Roche Sur Yon.
"Traveling to Italy from France is much easier, Samuel (Mugisha) would be our alternative and represent the country if others here fail to get visas.”