The Rwanda cycling governing body president, Abdallah Murenzi, and his French counterpart, Michel Caillot, are in talks as the former continues a push to revive Rwandan cycling, borrowing a leaf from the Tour de France. The Tour de France is a world-class annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Murenzi is on a four-day visit to France since Wednesday, October 26. He said the talks are aimed at building partnerships that will contribute to the development of Rwandan cycling, drawing experience from the French’s expertise in organizing an event as big as Tour de France. “Tour de France is a big cycling event that we believe can play an influential impact in improving the level of Tour du Rwanda in terms of organization as well as branding and marketing,” he said. Should the partnership be signed and sealed as per the draft, the French Cycling body will, among others, help Rwanda to promote the annual Tour du Rwanda event using Tour de France social media platforms, provide live broadcasting of the tournament using their media production channels as well as support Rwanda to attract Tour de France partners and sponsors to invest in Tour du Rwanda. Through the partnership, elite cycling teams in the Tour de France could also participate in Tour du Rwanda and therefore help to improve the level of the tournament. For instance, Murenzi said, the French cycling federation could support Rwanda to get at least two professional coaches and bicycle mechanics who can play an impact in Rwanda’s performance at international cycling races, including Tour du Rwanda while Rwandan home grown coaches and mechanics will travel to France for further training. Murenzi and Caillot also discussed talent detection and cycling development projects before signing a Memorandum of Understanding. As a result of the discussions, Caillot agreed to travel to Rwanda to grace the highly-anticipated Tour du Rwanda 2023. The annual race, which will be in its 15th edition, is due to take place from February 19-26, 2023.
