Four riders to compete in Francophone Games

Rwanda Cycling Federation will send four riders to compete in this year’s Francophone Games, which are scheduled for September 6-15 in Nice, France. The four riders include; South Africa-based Janvier Hadi and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana as well Valens Ndayisenga and Patrick Byukusenge.

Monday, August 05, 2013
Twenty-one year old Janvier Hadi will lead the Rwanda cycling team in Nice. Times Sport/ File.

Rwanda Cycling Federation will send four riders to compete in this year’s Francophone Games, which are scheduled for September 6-15 in Nice, France. The four riders include; South Africa-based Janvier Hadi and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana as well Valens Ndayisenga and Patrick Byukusenge.According to the president of local cycling governing body, Aimable Bayingana, the four riders were selected based on their age and potential to develop into future international competitors.The Francophone Games will give aimed at giving them more exposure to international racing.Both Hadi and Uwizeyimana train at the UCI Centre in South Africa, while Ndayisenga and Byukusenge are based in the country."The cycling competition is meant for riders are below 22 years of age, and under that age basis, the four we picked are the best to represent Rwanda,” Bayingana told this paper on Saturday.Rwanda will be making her debut in the football competition and is in Group D along with Congo Brazzaville, Canada and the hosts France.Group A is made up of Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger, Group B has Gabon, Senegal, Haiti, and Lebanon; while Cameroon, Morocco, Burkina Faso and Chad will battle in Group C.Besides cycling, Rwanda will also field competitors in other sports disciplines – such as Football U23 team, athletics, swimming, boxing and cultural events.The host city of Nice will bring together more than 3,000 participants from five continents competing in sporting and cultural events.Francophone Games, held every four years, were started in 1989 and are mostly dominated by French speaking nations.