Buoyant Ruhumuriza raring to go in Supa Tour of Kigali

AFTER winning the Inaugural ‘Kwita Izina’ cycling challenge tour back in June, Abraham Ruhumuriza feels Sunday’s Supa Tour of Kigali is within reach. The four-time Tour of Rwanda champion has stopped at nothing to make sure he is in perfect shape for the 145km event.

Saturday, October 03, 2009
Abraham Ruhumuriza

AFTER winning the Inaugural ‘Kwita Izina’ cycling challenge tour back in June, Abraham Ruhumuriza feels Sunday’s Supa Tour of Kigali is within reach.

The four-time Tour of Rwanda champion has stopped at nothing to make sure he is in perfect shape for the 145km event.

"I have been training on the 250km route from Kigali to Butare (Huye) and back. It has not been easy but we all know that you have to strive hard to achieve big things in life,” the 30-year-old said.

Ruhumuriza however expects stiff competition from fellow Team Rwanda cyclists like Nathan Byukusenge, Jean de Dieu Rafiki, Uwase Nyandwi and Obed Ruvogera.

"It will be an interesting tour because the likes of Byukusenge, Rafiki, Nyandwi and Ruvogera are also in contention,” he said.

Cyclists will be flagged off Sunday morning (9am) at Amahoro stadium. While the men will ride over a distance of 145km, female cyclists only have to cover 90km.

In the men’s category, the winner will pocket Rwf0.2m while the first and second runners up will bag Rwf150, 000 and Rwf100, 000 respectively.

For the women, Rwf150, 000 is at stake for the winner, while the second and third get to pocket Rwf100, 000 and Rwf50, 000 courtesy of Supa and ATC-Rwanda.

Ends