Eritrean star rider Henok Mulubrhan has fired a warning to his rivals that he is returning to Kigali with a mission to win what would be his second Tour du Rwanda title. The 17th edition of the annual cycling event will run from February 23 through March 2. Mulubrhan is now looking to join this year’s peloton after missing out on the 2024 Tour du Rwanda edition due to a shoulder injury. He was representing Italian team Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè but he now wants to repeat history playing for his country’s national team. ALSO READ: Mulueberhan wins Tour du Rwanda 2023 “The objective is to be the overall champion of this prestigious cycling race in Rwanda,” Henok told Times Sport. “But I need to work hard and prepare well because I will be competing against other professional cyclists across multiple stages. So, to claim the yellow jersey, I will have to work hard for it with my teammates.” he added. Mulubrhan, 25, made history by becoming the first athlete to win the African Cycling Championship three times in a row. He currently rides for Astana Qazaqstan but he will be competing in Tour du Rwanda 2025 in the colours of Eritrean National Team for which he wants to add this year’s race to his list of continental cycling victories. Prior to the race, Mulubrhan admitted that Tour du Rwanda is a challenging race with a high level of competition, which attracts international cyclists so I must be ready for the race. ALSO READ: Eritrea’s Mulubrhan named best cyclist of the year He, however, insists that, “extensive training focusing on endurance and climbing ability is essential to be competitive in the Tour du Rwanda.” “The race features demanding mountain climbs, which are crucial for achieving victory. To win, you need a strong team to support you during the race, pacing and protecting you on tough sections,” he added ALSO READ: Rwanda hires top European firms to organise 2025 UCI Road World Champs Besides Mulubrhan, the Eritrean national team’s roster confirmed for Tour du Rwanda 2025 also includes top riders like Nahom Zeray who plays for JLC Team Ukyo and Natan Medhanie of 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines among others. Eritrea is among 15 teams that will take part in Tour du Rwanda. The race will cover a distance of 812 kilometers and eight stages with the longest being [Rukomo (Gicumbi)-Kayonza] which is 158 kilometers long.
