Cyclists are in their final phase of preparation ahead of the two-day inaugural Kwita Izina cycling competition which sets off this Saturday.

The highly billed event which has been bankrolled by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) under ORPTN (Rwanda Office of tourism and national Parks) will see cyclists riding from Kigali to Gisenyi and back.

The overall winner will pocket Rwf 0.5 million. The top 25 cyclists will also walk away with cash prizes.

Kwita Izina is the first competition on this year’s national cycling federation (Ferwacy) and with lucrative cash prizes on offer, the federation expects a huge turn up.

About 80 cyclists from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania are expected to compete.

According to the federation’s Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Murenzi, the competition is a good forum for the locals to showcase their talent.

"Our local cyclists have the talent and we feel that it’s through such competitions that they get to showcase their ability and possible attract the attraction of high profile cycling clubs like MTN South Africa among others,” he said.

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