Cycling trio for South Africa training clinic

GASORE Hategeka, Nicodem Habiyambere and youngster Hadi Janvier will, in February next year leave for South Africa for a 2-month high level training clinic at the prestigious African Continental Cycling Center in Potchefstroom. The Executive Secretary of the national cycling body (Ferwacy) Emmanuel Murenzi explained that the trio was selected because they’ve been outstanding this year and also posses the potential to become professional competitors. «They have proved that they have a lot of potential so, as the federation, we need hel them exploit this opportunity,» Murenzi said. He added, ‘It is good exposure since they will be training alongside other upcoming cyclists from different parts of Africa.” The trio put in impressive performances during last month’s tour of Rwanda, which Rwanda won in the Team category. Adrien Niyonshuti, the country’s leading cyclist was the first beneficially of this arrangement. Niyonshuti secured a professional contract with Team MTN Energade, beginning in the 2009 professional season. In 2008, Niyonshuti attended the Africa Continental Centre Training Camp in South Africa, where he was offered a contract by Douglas Ryder, the directeur sportif of UCI Continental Team MTN Energade He started his first UCI European road race in August, 2009 with his participation in the 2009 Tour of Ireland, becoming the first Rwandan cyclist to ride in the European professional peloton. Niyonshuti is so far the athlete to have qualified to represent Rwanda in the cross-country mountain bike race during the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Meanwhile, the national cycling federation is finalizing plans to organize 12 cycling competitions next year that will include 10 local events and two at the international level. ostine.arinaitwe@newtimes.co.rw

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Cycling trio for South Africa training clinic