July 20 Musanze – Karongi (135.8k) July 21 Karongi – Rubavu (95.1km) Local riders currently undergoing rigorous training at Africa Rising Cycling Center in Musanze will have a taste of two-out of five-new stage routes as part of their final preparations ahead of the forthcoming 2018 Tour du Rwanda. The development was confirmed by Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY) on Tuesday. Part of the statement explained that the two races, on Saturday and Sunday, are aimed at helping head coach Sterling Magnell to assess the 18 riders in residential camp before he unveils the final 15-cyclist list to represent the country in the much-awaited event come August 5-12. The 18 riders, who will be trimmed to 15 riders early next week, will on Saturday ride from Musanze in Northern Province covering Karongi in Western Province on a distance of 135.8km, which will be stage 4 during this year’s Tour du Rwanda. It will also be the event’s second longest following stage 3 that will cover 195.3km from Huye to Musanze district. Stage 3 is also another new route in this year’s edition. The following day, riders will discover the Karongi-Rubavu route which will cover 95.1 kilometres, the same route to be used during Stage 5 of the 10th Tour du Rwanda on August 9. Among others, Stage 1 will also be another new stage route in Tour du Rwanda, a 104-kilometre circuit around Rwamagana town which will mark the first time that the annual UCI 2.2 race starts outside the capital since 2009 when the race was affiliated to UCI Africa Tour. This year’s event will cover a record 948.6 kilometers, an elevation of 19.455 meters and a total of 31 climbs attracting a total of 16 teams in which Rwanda will field three teams led by the national team (Team Rwanda) plus Club Benediction and Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana. The 18 riders in the training camp set to discover the new routes are led by 2015 Tour du Rwanda champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana and the reigning Tour du Cameroun champion Bonaventure Uwizeyimana. Other renowned riders include the 2015 All-African Games gold medalist Janvier Hadi, 2017 Rwanda Cycling Cup winner Patrick Byukusenge, and 2017 national champion Gasore Hategeka. Rwandan riders will be aiming to maintain their Tour du Rwanda winning streak that they have mastered since 2014 when Valens Ndayisenga made history by becoming the first local rider to win the highly coveted event’s yellow jersey. On the other hand, this will be the last time that Tour du Rwanda is held as a 2.2 UCI race as it is set for a 2.1 upgrade effective next year – making it one of the only two African cycling events with 2.1 badge along with Gabon’s La Tropicale Amissa Bongo. Cyclists in the training camp Innocent Niyireba, Jean Paul Rene Ukiniwabo, Sept Hakizimana, Eric Manizabayo, Jean Rubwera, Ephrem Tuyishimire, Samuel Hakiruwizeye, Janvier Rugamba, Didier Hakizimana, Moise Mugisha, Josepth Shema, Jean Bosco Nsengimana, Patrick Byukusenge, Mike Uwiduhaye, Bonaventure Uwizeyemana, Janvier Hadi, Gasore Hatageka and Eric Nduwayo editorial@newtimes.co.rw
