Cycling team eye 2016 Olympic qualification

Team Rwanda riders will go into the upcoming Challenge des Phosphates race in Morocco, from December 17-20, seeking to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The team’s participation in this event is to ensure Rwanda secures a slot to the Rio 2016 Olympics, with Janvier Hadi currently sitting in 10th place with 136.33 points while the reigning Tour du Rwanda champion, Jean Bosco Nsengimana is in 13th place with 127 points. The top 10 riders at the end of the year will win a bid for their countries to compete at the Rio 2016. “Our aim is to win one race which will help us earn points; I am pretty excited to hear about competing in this race,” said Hadi, who won the road race gold at this year’s All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville. He added, “Each and every one of us is looking for the qualifications, and we will take this event seriously.” Rwanda has a chance of sending two riders in Brazil if they earn points in Challenge des Phosphates, a four-day event with three races including Grand Prix de Youssoufia onDecember 17, Grand Prix de Ben Guerir on December 18 and the Grand Prix de Khouribga on December 20. “The fact that we do have a chance of qualifying, we will do all we can to make it happen, we are going to give our best to win the race in Morocco, we know we’re going to work hard than ever before. But we know we are capable of doing that.” Six riders including; Hadi, Nsengimana, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Patrick Byukusenge, Joseph Areruya and Camera Hakuzimana will compete in the Moroccan event.

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Cycling team eye 2016 Olympic qualification