It was not the day Rwandan cyclist Eric Manizabayo wished for as his hopes of competing at Tour du Rwanda 2023 were short-lived by illness which forced him out of the race on Thursday. The Team Rwanda rider is among ten riders who crashed out of the race due to various reasons. Manizabayo could have pulled out of the race earlier after he had an accident on stage three when he was riding from Huye to Musanze. He decided to continue the race but failed to do so because he was battling a tonsillitis crisis while racing Thursday’s stage from Rusizi to Rubavu. Other riders who abandoned the race include Israel - Premier Tech duo Raisberg Nadav and Kessler Cole, Andemariam Hager and Aman Awet from Team Eritrea, Su Haoyu and Teng Geng from China Glory Continental Cycling, EF Education - Nippo Development rider Toupalík Jakub and Moroccan riders Khafi Oussama and Saaoud Mohammed. Knaapi Markus - Tartu2024 Cycling Team did not start the race. They join seven others who pulled out of stage Three from Huye to Musanze due to various reasons. A total of 100 riders from 20 teams were expected to attend the 15th edition of the international cycling race but the number reduced to 94 following Team Algeria’s last-minute withdrawal due to logistical constraints while Craps Lars of Soudal-Quick Step didn't start the race. Wesley Mol of Bike Aid pulled out after failing to start the third stage from Huye to Musanze. Filippo Conca and Josh Charlton (Great Britain) were also forced to abandon after they were involved in a crash in the peloton that was heading to Gisagara during Tuesday’s stage while EF Education rider Toby Perry crashed out after suffering from a collarbone injury in Monday’s breakaway. With 23 riders now out of Tour du Rwanda 2023, the number of participants has now dropped to 70 from the initial 93 that started the race.
