Niyonshuti to start competing in October

Rwanda’s professional rider, Adrien Niyonshuti is expected to start competing in October after missing most of last season with an illness.

Thursday, July 04, 2013
Adrien Niyonshuti became the first black to compete in the Olympics Mt. Bike when he participated in the 2012 London Games. Net photo.

Rwanda’s professional rider, Adrien Niyonshuti is expected to start competing in October after missing most of last season with an illness.The country’s top rider, who races for South African team MTN-Qhubeka and the first black to race in the Mountain Bike category at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a blood clot in a deep vein, normally in the legs.But after undergoing top level treatment, thanks to his team, the 27-year-old will start to compete on high level once again, "I am feeling good right now, last week I met my Doctor, he told me I will start to compete in October, which is the best news I have been waiting for.” "I was disappointed but grateful that now I feel good and able to race again, I am looking forward to come back to my level again. I have started training and I feel good, but competing will be at the end of the year.”Meanwhile, recently, the Rwanda Cycling Federation started the ‘Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Center’ in Rwamagana City, the rider’s birth place, which will start operating at the end of this month with 14 young riders.The purpose of the training center is to help the local cycling governing body to develop the sport in the country by training the young riders at the youngest age possible. The academy will target riders aged 16 to 18 (junior category). The youngsters will get well trained, nutrition, tactics (from watching videos) and mechanics. At the end of their training, they will be able to focus on a professional career in cycling and sport and race for Rwanda’s national team.