Talks are ongoing between Kigali-based cycling club, Maystar, and Rwanda’s cycling governing body (Ferwacy) as the club attempts to take Benediction Kitei Pro 2020’s place at the much-anticipated Tour du Rwanda 2023, Times Sport has established.

Benediction Kitei Pro 2000 were, alongside the national cycling team, expected to represent the country at the prestigious cycling event scheduled from February 19-26 but failure to register as a UCI Continental team saw them restricted from participating.

Following their withdrawal, MayStar immediately entered showdown talks with Ferwacy as they ran against the clock to secure their dream debut at the continental race.

"We are in talks with the club as we assess whether they fulfill requirements needed to participate at Tour du Rwanda. We hope to announce them as soon as the assessment is successfully completed,” Murenzi told Times Sport on Tuesday.

Based in Kigali, the club is a product of a partnership between Ferwacy and Maystar, a group of Eritreans who have dedicated their passion in the cycling game.

The club was founded with the aim of unearthing talents and developing a new generation of professional cyclists.

It is also one of the teams that participated during the 2022 Rwanda Cycling Cup season.

The team, however, lacks approval from Ferwacy pending license by the Switzerland-based world cycling governing body (UCI) as a continental team, becoming only the second Rwandan team with the UCI registration badge.

Eritrea’s Natnael Testefasion who rides for Italian Club Drone Hopper–Androni Giocattoli, is the reigning champion of the race. He is the only rider to have won the tournament twice since it was sanctioned to 2.1 on the UCI Africa Tour calendar in 2019.

No Rwandan rider has won Tour du Rwanda since the tournament was sanctioned to the 2.1 UCI cycling races in 2019, ending their serial dominance under the 2.2 racing category.