PHOTOS: Byukusenge turns focus to Tour du Rwanda

Elite Men, top three 1. Patrick Byukusenge - 4:39:052. Jean Bosco Nsengimana - 4:39:053. Didier Munyaneza - 4:39:05 Women, top three 1. Xaverine Nirere - 2:53:302. Magnifique Manizabayo - 2:55:403. Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu - 2:56:52 Men’s junior 1. Yves Nkurunziza - 2:24:272. Jean Eric Habimana - 2:25:003. Eric Manizabayo - 2:27:16 After winning Muhazi Challenge race on Saturday in Rwamagana district, Benediction Cycling Club rider, Patrick Byukusenge has now shifted focus to preparations for this year’s Tour du Rwanda. Team Rwanda cyclist, Byukusenge, becomes the 8th different rider to win a race in as many Rwanda Cycling Cup races this year The 25-year-old will be making his fifth consecutive appearance in the annual 2.2 UCI category race this November, since his debut in 2013. His best performance to date came in 2014 when he finished third behind champion Valens Ndayisenga and first runner-up, Joseph Areruya. Valens Ndayisengas sister Xaverine Nirere won the race in Women category The Rubavu-based Byukusenga claimed 175km Muhazi Challenge, the 8th round of this year’s Rwanda Cycling Cup, after using 4 hours, 39 minutes and 5 seconds. A total 44 riders started the race, but only three completed, all riding for Benediction Cycling Club. Rayon Sports fans heading to Rubavu got out the bus and support riders in Muhazi Challenge race Byukusenga finished ahead of teammates; Jean Bosco Nsengimana and Didier Munyaneza, who also used the same time. Peloton of 30 riders arrive at Kabuga ka Musha in Rwamagana. In a post-race interview with Times Sport, the visibly excited Byukusenge attributed the win to sheer determination and teamwork. Nyabihu Cycling Club riders Gasore Hategeka exchanges the bicycle with his teammate Ruberwa in Gakenke District “This is a great day for me and my club, this victory is a result of hard work and teamwork. My teammates (Nsengimana and Munyaneza) helped me a lot,” he stated. Les Amis Sportifs rider Rene Jean Paul Ukiniwabo leads the peloton Byukusenge last won a race in Rwanda Cycling Cup in May 2016 when he claimed the Race to Remember from Bugesera to Kigali. In a windy situation, riders raced on high speeds in the early kilometers, mostly in hilly climbs and dangerous descends of Musanze. He added, “With less than two months before Tour du Rwanda, this victory is good preparation. I am really excited to get my first win of the year but the ultimate target is Tour du Rwanda. The main goal is to keep the title here (Rwanda).” Benediction Clubs Eric Nkurunziza won the race in Juniors category At this year’s Tour du Rwanda, the 9th edition since turning international in 2009, Rwanda will be represented by three five-man teams, a select national team and two cycling clubs namely; Rwamagana-based Les Amis Sportifs and Benediction Cycling Club of Rubavu. Benediction Club upcoming rider Didier Munyaneza , the winner in U23 category was given a cheque of 60.000 rwf Muhazi Challenge race attracted 75 riders, including 44 in the Elite Men & U23 category (175km), 22 in Junior men and nine in women categories respectively. All of these cyclists were eliminated in the race due to the mysterious performance of Byukusenge, Nsengimana and Munyaneza the only riders who finished the race Les Amis Sportifs’ Xaverine Nirere won the women’s 91km race while Yves Nkurunziza claimed the junior men’s race. A big crowd of Cycling fans was seen in Nyabugogo as the peloton arrived there Byukusenge is the eighth different rider to win a race in the 2017 Rwanda Cycling Cup, which means no rider has won two races so far this year. The Elite Men’s 175km race went through many districts.The picture shows the peloton at Base in Rurindo District Jean Bosco Nsengimana won the first race of the season, the Memorial Lambert Byemayire; Uwizeye took the Farmers’ Circuit, Adrien Niyonshuti won the National Championship – Individual Time Trial while Gasore Hategeka won the National Road Championship. The Benediction trio entered Kigali with the difference of 3 minutes and 50 seconds before the peloton Jean Claude Uwizeyimana claimed the Race to Remember, Valens Ndayisenga scooped Race for Culture whereas Cycling Club for All’s Mathieu Twizerane stunned a strong field to win the Central Challenge early this month. Six riders crashed out earlier due to minor accidents editorial@newtimes.co.rw Valens Ndayisengas sister Xaverine Nirere won the race in Women category