Rwandans and cycling fans across the globe are eagerly awaiting for the 14th edition of Tour du Rwanda which kicks off in Kigali on Sunday, February 20. Arguably the biggest race of the UCI Africa Tour, the tournament will attract 95 cyclists from 19 teams from various countries competing in 8 difficult stages that will decide the winner on February 27. With this year’s edition promising to be even tougher, Weekend Sport looks at five riders to watch out for in the week-long race. Natnael Tesfatsion (Androni – Giocatolli) The 22-year-old returns to Rwanda with a target to add yet another silverware to the Yellow Jersey he won two years ago after beating Rwanda’s Moise Mugisha to the top prize. The fact that no Eritrean team will participate in this year’s Tour du Rwanda means that Tesfatsion indirectly represents the country despite the fact that he will be representing a non-Eritrean cycling team. He won the race with South Africa’s NTT Continental cycling team and he wants to prove why Androni – Giocatolli, an Italian-registered UCI Pro Team, signed him last year by winning this year’s edition. Moise Mugisha (Protouch - 2nd GC 2020) The 25-year-old returns to the big stage after missing out on the rosters of Skol Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy (SACA) continental team and the national cycling team, despite the fact that he was regarded as the best rider that Rwandans were looking forward to challenging for Tour Rwanda months after winning Grand Prix Chantal Biya 2020. Mugisha fell out of favor with his then coach Adrien Niyonshuti and, as a result, forced a move out of the team to join South African Team Pro Touch. After narrowly missing out on Tour du Rwanda 2020 yellow jersey, Mugisha wants to make history in the team’s colors and become the first Rwandan to win the race since it was sanctioned at UCI 2.1 race. James Piccoli The 30-year-old Canadian was just 17 seconds away from winning last year’s edition of Tour Rwanda only to lose it in the decisive stage to eventual winner Cristian Rodriguez. Now that the Colombian is absent this time round, Piccoli, who rides for UCI World Tour cycling team Israel–Premier Tech (IPT), believes it is his time to take the Yellow jersey home. Jonathan Restrepo (Androni –Giocattoli) The Colombian, who rides for Italian cycling team Androni Giocattoli, has arguably won most stages during the past two editions of Tour du Rwanda, becoming stage winner four times in 2020 and once last year. With the Tour du Rwanda’s itineraries looking more familiar for the 27-year-old, the race could be decisive for him to finally leave a mark by winning this year’s edition, after finishing fifth last year with just 51 seconds adrift of race winner Cristian Rodriguez. It will however depend on who the team will front between him and Tesfatsion. Alexandre Geniez (Total Energies) Cristian Rodrigues won Tour du Rwanda 2021 in the Total Energies’ colors and in his absence, the French professional road bicycle racing team, that competes as a UCI ProTeam in UCI Continental Circuits races, believe they can retain the Yellow Jersey with a new face in experienced rider Alexandre Geniez. Geniez, 33, has previously won at least a stage at La Vuelta, a UCI World Tour sanctioned multi-stage bicycle race held annually in Spain, in 2013, 2016 and 2018. He also won French domestic races including Tour d’Ain 2015, Tour de la Provence 2018 and Grand Prix La Marseillaise in 2018. With his performances in the past few years, Geniez’ experience at big stages puts him among the favorites for this year’s Tour du Rwanda.
