Cycling needs long term game plan

Editor,RE: “Rwanda must leverage gains made in cycling” (The New Times, December 23). It is nice to see Rwandans, especially a woman (Kigali Girl), taking an interest in the sport of cycling. This sport has launched Rwanda into the forefront of the sport on the continent in only 10 short years, achieving much more success than football has ever brought to the country. Valens Ndayisenga celebrating after winning Tour du Rwanda for the second time. / Internet photo I agree with many of her points. One thing to be noted is that domestiques is actually a very important job to a cycling team and should not be discounted. Rwandans and other African cyclists will be in this position for quite some time as they learn the sport and begin achieving gains at the highest echelons. Coach Jock Boyer was a domestique for Bernard Hinault helping him win the 1981 Tour de France. As the first American in the Tour he started as a domestique, just like African cyclists such as Daniel Teklehaimanont, Merhawi Kudus, Natnael Berhane and Louis Meintjes. Minispoc and Ferwacy have been committed to working with TRC and growing the sport. They need to have a long term 5-10 year game plan which includes funding which we are currently working towards. Currently, outside of the Tour du Rwanda, 70 percent of the funding for Team Rwanda comes via US non-profit. We host fundraisers in the US and rely on donors from throughout the world who have personally invested in the success of this team. The answer is not in more centers, but in helping the clubs establish a pipeline for procuring more bikes and spare parts. Africa Rising Cycling Center in Musanze is all that is needed as far as a cycling center. The biggest issues facing the growth of the sport are equipment, trained mechanics and coaches. We never have enough bikes for all the hopefuls and spare parts is a constant struggle. ARCC runs mechanic training courses regularly, however, it will be 5-10 years before a Rwandan mechanic has the skills and knowledge to run the national team. This is where the money needs to be spent long term. Finally, cycling is not like football as far as “selling off talent”. Generally, clubs do not get money when their cyclists go professional. Teams like Dimension Data will not “pay” for a talent like Adrien Niyonshuti. It’s simply not done. Because there are literally thousands of cyclists all equally as good as Mr. Niyonshuti all vying for a very limited amount of slots. Cycling essentially is a sport, where you never make money. It’s a matter of keeping your head above water and helping produce world class cyclists. Clubs need to fund themselves via sponsorship like what Skol has done with the cycling club Fly. More Rwandan companies need to step up to the plate to support their teams. Skol’s investment has been a game changer for the sport in Rwanda. What has been extremely disappointing is that even when clubs do secure sponsorship, they are faced with non-payment of sponsorship by the company. West Hills Coffee (Garuka Coffee) agreed to sponsor Club Benediction. Kits were designed with their logo and cost approximately $2,200, but the company has not paid for the kits although they have been worn in numerous Rwanda Cycling Club events and the Tour du Rwanda. After repeated attempts to secure payment, Team Rwanda Cycling has covered the cost of the kits, now resulting in cessation of a training camp to cover the overage in our budget. Club Benediction could not cover that cost. It’s a shame that Rwandan companies, such as West Hills Coffee, have actually hurt both a club and the national team. Finally, one point not addressed is women’s cycling. Kigali Girl, we would love to have your support in growing cycling for women in Rwanda. We need women like you who are interested in the sport and willing to help. You think it’s difficult for the male cyclists? Try being a female in the sport!Kimberly Moszyk Coats

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Cycling needs long term game plan