Rider Moise Mugisha is determined to take his 2022 impressive form to the highly anticipated Tour du Rwanda 2023. The 26-year-old had a year to remember in 2022 as after winning three consecutive races. He won the Royal Nyanza Race on December 30, just two months after winning Kibeho Race and Musanze Gorilla Race. He, however, said that he still has a lot to do to reach his peak if he is to contend for the Tour du Rwanda which is due from February 19-26. “I can’t say that I am at my best yet just because I’ve won today’s race, Tour du Rwanda is another level with a different speed compared to what you have seen today, so I need to train harder,” Mugisha said. He, however, did not undermine the local races which he instead said helped him and his compatriots in their early preparations for the tournament. “I have worked hard in these past three months, that's why you’re seeing me performing at this level,” the rider said. By winning the eighth stage of the 2022 edition, Mugisha became the first Rwandan rider to win a stage in Tour du Rwanda since Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) sanctioned the race was 2.1 back in 2019. He now has January on his sights to train harder so he can stand a chance to win yet another silverware at this year’s edition. “Tour du Rwanda is in February, so training starts now. We have another tour in Gabon this month which will be a good test for me. I hope I will be ready,” he noted Mugisha is a free agent after his contract with South African side ProTouch expired in December. The rider is now in talks with various teams with Spain now looking likely to be his next destination. “I’m in advanced negotiations with a Spanish team. I hope everything will be sorted out after the Gabon race,” he said. Tour du Rwanda is regarded as the biggest annual race on the UCI Africa Tour calendar, in which riders from countries across the globe contest for the pride of their respective teams, nations or clubs, while racing through a designed itinerary nationwide.
