Tour of Rwanda was a success – Ferwacy

The just concluded 2013 Tour of Rwanda was hugely successful and lived up to its billing, according to the Rwanda Cycling Federation president.Aimable Bayingana reckons the Tour, which was won by South African Dylan Girdlestone, 24, leaves a great deal of experience to the local riders and many young cyclists from across the continent.The 2013 Tour of Rwanda go underway on November 17, with 70 riders representing 14 teams from across the world.The Tour traversed all four provinces and the City of Kigali before concluding on Sunday at Amahoro national stadium in Remera. Girdlestone, who came third in 2011 and second in 2012, covered the 804km-race in 20 hours 35 minutes and 55 seconds, to win the title previously held by compatriot Darren Lil, who did not participate this time round. According to Bayingana, everything in this year’s Tour of Rwanda went as planned and that organisers were pleased with how the riders and everyone involved expressed themselves throughout the eight-day, seven stage race.“We are happy with how everything went, from the first to the last day. The way everything was done reflected the status of the Tour of Rwanda as an international race and the biggest event on our (local cycling) calendar,” Bayingana told the media.“We are hugely grateful to everyone, from all our partners, the riders and all the Rwandans who have been following the Tour in the various areas across the country,” he added.He said this year’s edition had raised the bar, adding that strong partnership was needed to make next year’s tour even more successful, both in terms of organisation and competitiveness.Two Rwandans, Team Karisimbi’s Jean Bosco Nsengiyumva (sixth) and Adrien Niyonshuti, who was riding for South Africa’s Team MTN-Qhubeka (seventh), finished in top ten, and Bayingana reserved special praise for the duo.He also praised the other 13 Rwandans who were riding for different local teams in the Tour.Last year, Niyonshuti was the only Rwandan to finish inside the top ten and before then none had ranked among the top ten – since 2009 when Tour of Rwanda became an UCI Africa Tour.“We are happy because our riders have shown great improvement from the previous edition, they have grown in technical ability and experience, and we hope that they will do much better next year,” added Bayingana.He added, “The Tour of Rwanda offers an opportunity to our riders to prove themselves against some of the best riders on the continent and beyond. It’s a big motivation and experience for everyone in Team Rwanda,” he added.He singled out 19-year-old Valens Ndayisenga (Team Akagera) who shocked many when he won the Tour’s Stage Two (151.9-kilometre, Rwamagana-Musanze), the most gruelling of the seven legs.The stage victory made Ndayisenga, a debutant in the annual race, the youngest Rwandan ever to win a leg in the Tour of Rwanda.“It was a special moment, Valens made us proud. I believe that with more commitment and determination, our riders will go places,” he said.Overall, Ndayisenga finished in 11th position with a time of 20 hours 43 minutes 11 seconds over the seven legs.During the awards ceremony on Sunday, Ndayisenga was named the most promising rider in the annual competition, a feat for which he received a bicycle courtesy of the French Embassy in Kigali.After the Tour, the highest ranked Rwandan, Nsengiyumva, 20, said, “I think we did our best but a couple of our opponents were stronger and more experienced in international competitions; nonetheless, we are happy with what we have done. Personally, to finish in sixth is a great achievement.” He added, “Having competed with professional riders, we have learned a lot, it was a very tough race; for me it’s only the beginning because I still have a lot to learn,” stated Nsengiyumva who was making his debut in the Tour of Rwanda.On his part, teenage rider Ndayisenga said, “For me competing at the international level is a dream come true, I never anticipated this any time soon. I am excited and want to continue working hard with hope that I can do even better next year.”Eritrean Team AS BE CO won the best team award, while Tanzania National Team rider Richard Laizer, who finished the race in 22nd position after posting 20h54’49”, took the Tour’s fair play award.Participating teams: Team Akagera, Team Karisimbi, Team Muhabura (Rwanda), AS BE CO (Eritrea), Avia Crabbe (Belgium), Team Haute Savoie (France), South Africa’s MTN Qhubeka, South Africa National Team, Team Novo Nordisk (USA), Ethiopia National Team, Kenya National Team, Algeria National Team, Gabon National Team, and Tanzania National Team.

Sports

Tour of Rwanda was a success – Ferwacy