Team Rwanda head coach Sterling Magnell has revealed that several European cycling teams have expressed interest in signing reigning Tour du Rwanda champion Valens Ndayisenga. Valens Ndayisenga, the winner of the 2016 Tour du Rwanda, has receieved several offers, according to Team Rwanda coach. / Sam Ngendahimana The 22-year-old star has been released by Dimension Data for Qhubeka after one year with the South African UCI Continental Team, where he was together with compatriot Bonaventure Uwizeyimana. Ndayisenga, a Tour du Rwanda record four-stage winner, claimed his second title in three years thus becoming the first rider to win the UCI Africa Tour category 2.2 road race twice, however the achievement was not enough to see him join Dimension Data World Tour team. In an exclusive interview with Saturday Sport, Magnell revealed that they have also received offers for some of their riders including Ndayisenga as well as youngsters Samuel Mugisha and Joseph Areruya, who are set to join Dimension Data.“We have received some very good offers for Mugisha, Joseph and Valens, we turned down some and retained others, however nothing has been agreed officially,” said Magnell.On Ndayisenga, Magnell noted that, “His contract technically expires at the end of December but he is free to negotiate with another team, although Dimension Data have the first right of refusal because they haven’t informed him that they don’t want to retain his services.” “So they can be obliged to sign again first but we do really have good offers for him from various teams that have showed great interest in him, nonetheless, we expect him to have a new team in January,” explained the American trainer.Meanwhile, the future of 2015 Tour du Rwanda champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana with Germany Stradalli-Bike Aid remains uncertain with the expiry of his contract. Magnell stated that, “For Bosco, he will not be returning to Bike Aid but it’s not over for him and we are working out some other options that we can’t talk about now.”The riders are currently in residential training camp at Africa Rising Cycling Center in Musanze district, preparing for the 2017 African Continental Road Championships, the first race on the UCI Africa Tour calendar that will be held in Luxor, Egypt from February 14-19. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
