Cycling team start pursuit of glory in USA race

TodayStage 1, Colorado Springs - 150.4kmAug. 11Stage 2, Breckenridge - 103kmAug. 12Stage 3, Denver’s RiNo Art District - Peak to Peak Highway - 130kmAug. 13Stage 4, Denver’s RiNo Art District and City Park - 120.1km The national cycling team (Team Rwanda) riders will start their bid for the 2017 Colorado Classic glory today. The four-stage 2.HC UCI category, which will cover a distance of 503.5km, will run until August 13 in the United States. Making their debut at the high level competition, the Rwandan cyclists will be looking to get off to an impressive start against some of the world’s best riders and world tour professional clubs such as BMC Racing Team, among others. (L_R) Jean-Claude Uwizeye, Didier Bizimana, Rene Jean-Paul Ukiniwabo are starting USA race today. / Sam Ngendahimana BMC Racing Team is a UCI ProTeam title sponsored by BMC, a Swiss-based bicycle frame manufacturer. A total of 90 male cyclists will start today’s stage 1- the longest and most grueling covering 150.4 kilometres. It will start with a 25.1km stage 1 circuit in Colorado Springs downtown on Pikes Peak Avenue and Tejon Street, then go through Garden of the Gods before making its way back to the start/finish line. Riders will race 5 laps of the circuit. Some of the pre-tournament title favourites include; Americans Brent Brookwalter, Evan Huffman, Greg Daniel, and Robin Carptenter, along with Columbians Rigoberto Urban, Janier Acevedo, and Daniel Jaramillo. Rigoberto Uran finished in second place overall at the 2017 Tour de France behind Chris Froome, who secured his fourth Tour title. Team Rwanda, the only national team in the competition comprises six riders namely; Gasore Hategeka, Jean Claude Uwizeye, Jean Bosco Nsengimana, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Jean Paul Ukiniwabo and Didier Munyaneza. The 15 participating teams: World Tour Teams: BMC Racing Team, Cannondale-Drapac Professional Cycling Team, Trek-Segafredo and UAE Team Emirates. UCI Professional Continental Teams: Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Israel Cycling Academy, Nippo-Vini Fantini, Team Novo Nordisk and United Healthcare Professional Cycling Team. ICU Continental Teams: Axeon Hagens Berman, Elevate - KHS, Holowesko/Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear, Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis, Rally Cycling and Team Rwanda. editorial@newtimes.co.rw