Rwanda Cycling Federation is set to launch the Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy on May 26 in Rwamagana City in the Eastern Province where the country’s top rider hails from.It will be the second training centre in the country after the success of the Team Rwanda Centre based in Musanze in the Northern Province.As part of the day’s activities, the cycling federation will organise a one-day competition dubbed ‘Criterium de Rwamagana’ which is expected to attract all the top local riders. However, Niyonshuti will be part of it as he is still recovering from an illness that has sidelined him since early March.According to the federation official, the Adrien Niyonshuti training centre will be used in grooming a new generation of riders, who will represent the country in future international competitions. The centre, which will receive support from the ‘Friends of Rwandan Cycling’ from Italy and UK, will enlist young riders aged between 12 and 18 years as well as female riders.The idea of naming the centre after Niyonshuti is to recognise his contribution towards putting Rwandan cycling on the international map.Meanwhile, the federation is planning to organise a two-day competition on June 14-15 in memory of the riders and officials, who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
