Every morning, major roads across Rwanda are packed with cars, buses, and motorcycles as commuters rush to work. Amid this heavy traffic, professional cyclists preparing for national and international competitions are also required to train.
At times, riders are safer doing team training sessions than they are while doing individual training. And that raises a critical question: how safe are riders training at busy traffic roads?
For former Benediction Cycling Club rider Diane Ishimwe, the risks of road training became tragically real.
In 2020, while training in Musanze, Ishimwe was involved in a serious accident that knocked out seven teeth and ultimately forced her into early retirement.
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"Whenever I recall what happened, I feel traumatised,” Ishimwe told Times Sport. "It is hard to understand why some clubs do not take full responsibility for their riders, yet they are supposed to.”
Her ordeal was compounded by delays in receiving medical support from her club, leaving her to cope with lasting physical injuries and psychological trauma largely on her own.
Fear still haunts active riders
Safety concerns persist among active cyclists. Jeremie Ngendahayo, who rides for continental team May Stars, survived a frightening crash in 2024 after being hit from behind by a car on the Kinamba–Nyabugogo road.
"Even today, fear crosses my mind whenever I go for individual training,” Ngendahayo admitted. "I was close to death, if I may say. I now try to use roads with fewer vehicles, but it’s not always easy to find such routes.”
Several riders have reported similar incidents during individual training sessions on busy roads. As a result, coaches increasingly recommend group training, which allows for better coordination with traffic authorities.
"When more than five riders train together, there should be a motorbike in front of the peloton to help clear the road,” said Nathan Byukusenge, Team Rwanda’s coach in charge of youth development.
"For the national team, things are well organised because traffic police are involved. But for clubs, the situation is different, and during individual training riders are largely on their own,” he added.
Federation speaks out
As safety concerns remain widespread, the Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY) has reiterated that clubs are required to insure their riders to ensure prompt medical care in case of accidents.
"To be recognised as members of the federation, clubs must present insurance that covers riders in case of sudden accidents. However, there are doubts about whether some clubs consistently renew these policies,” said Liliane Kayirebwa, FERWACY’s Vice President in charge of competitions.
Kayirebwa noted that the federation works directly with clubs rather than individual riders, making clubs fully accountable when cyclists face such challenges.
In line with ongoing Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) reforms aimed at restructuring sports leadership, FERWACY plans to review club regulations to strengthen responsibility and address persistent safety issues.
In the meantime, riders have been urged to exercise extra caution during training. Where possible, using routes with lighter traffic is strongly recommended to reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety.