Four years after the launch of the Rwanda Youth Racing Cup, questions persist over whether the programme is truly producing talents capable of replacing national cycling legends such as Adrien Niyonshuti. The grassroots cycling initiative was introduced by the local governing body as a structured pathway to identify and nurture young riders from an early age, with the long-term goal of feeding the national team and sustaining Rwanda’s cycling legacy. ALSO READ: Young star Ntirenganya joins Kenya-based team The programme targets five age categories: Pupilles (U11), Benjamins (U13), Minimes (U15), Cadets (U17), and Juniors (U19). One of its most promising graduates is Schadrack Ufitimana, who has already broken into Team Rwanda, offering a glimpse of the programme’s potential. Numbers show growth, but doubts remain Participation figures suggest progress. In 2025 alone, the third edition attracted 1,286 young riders nationwide. A major milestone came when three boys and two girls represented Rwanda at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in the junior category. However, only one rider—Moise Ntirenganya—was a direct graduate of the Youth Racing Cup. He later earned a professional contract with Team Amani, a continental outfit set to compete at Tour du Rwanda 2026. Despite these achievements, the programme’s overall impact has sparked mixed reactions among stakeholders. “Looking at how we started, only those with real passion have remained committed to bringing riders into this competition,” said Youssuf Sebugwiza, head coach of Benediction Cycling Team. “Even those still pushing through receive little support from the federation.” With over 30 years of experience in Rwandan cycling, Sebugwiza argues that grassroots development is being hampered by limited material, financial, and technical support. “In this situation, it will be difficult to achieve the desired outcome,” he said. He recalled that during Rwanda’s cycling golden era—featuring riders such as Adrien Niyonshuti, Jean Bosco Nsengimana, and Joseph Areruya—local clubs benefited from second-hand equipment sourced through partnerships with professional teams. “Today, such initiatives no longer exist. How can you expect performance when three riders share one bike for training?” he asked. ALSO READ: A mother’s role in a junior cyclist’s rise Life after graduation remains a challenge The Youth Racing Cup only accommodates riders under 18, with graduates expected to transition to the Rwanda Junior Tour before progressing to elite competitions such as Tour du Rwanda. But that pathway has proven difficult. “I graduated in 2023 and moved to the elite category,” said 21-year-old Domina Ingabire, who rides for Bugesera Cycling Team. “Cycling helped me access better education, but balancing studies and elite training is difficult. We are expected to train longer hours, yet I can only ride on weekends to avoid missing classes.” Reigning junior champion Pacifique Byusa also questioned the competitiveness of the youth circuit. “We are not challenged enough to prepare ourselves for the future. Racing abroad would help more than competing in the same environment year after year,” he told Times Sport. FERWACY admits gaps, urges patience FERWACY Vice President in charge of competitions Liliane Kayitesi insists it is still too early to pass final judgment on the project. “When we started in 2023, the youngest riders were just nine years old. Developing a professional cyclist takes many years,” she said. “Our objective was to prepare juniors for milestones like the UCI Road World Championships, and we are already seeing progress.” She cited Donatha Akimana, who won two bronze medals in the U-16 category at the 2025 African Cycling Championships, earning qualification for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, as an example of success. ALSO READ: What you need to know about Tour du Rwanda 2026 Kayitesi acknowledged shortcomings, including the absence of a formal tracking system for graduates. To address this, FERWACY plans to introduce a licensing database to monitor rider progression. From the fourth edition onward, participants will also be required to present school report cards to ensure a balance between education and sport. “I agree we are not doing enough, but there is hope. This is a long-term project—an 18-year vision,” she said. She also urged clubs to actively seek partnerships, including links with professional teams for second-hand equipment, stressing that development is a shared responsibility. “Even though competitions remain limited, the existing ones are manageable logistically,” she added. Kayitesi revealed that several district-sponsored races were dropped after failing to meet FERWACY requirements, leaving Kirehe Race as the only such event currently on the calendar. “We cancelled races where districts failed to meet sponsorship conditions. Teams were required to provide 40 percent of the budget two weeks before the event, but many could not comply,” she explained. “Reaching our targets is a shared responsibility between the federation and the teams—not the federation alone.”
