Youngster gears up for cycling clinic

JANVIER Hadi is one of three cyclists set to take part in a six-week high level training clinic at the prestigious African continental cycling center in South Africa. The 19-year-old, who only started competitive racing during last year’s Tour of Rwanda, beat more experienced riders in Nathan Byukusenge and Gasore Hategeka in Friday’s 117km trial race. Four-time Tour of Rwanda winner Abraham Ruhumuriza won the race while Nicodem Habiyambere and Gasore Hategeka followed closely in 2nd and 4th place. Hategeka and Habiyambere complete the three-man team for the clinic and Emmanuel Murenzi, the Executive Secretary of the Cycling Federation (Ferwacy) expects the trio to reap big from the opportunity. “They will be training alongside the very best on the continent so it’s great opportunity for them. They are focused riders and I have no doubt that they will make the most of the opportunity.” Adrien Niyonshuti, who also went through the high-level training clinic, is now an integral member of South Africa’s 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. Last year, he qualified to represent Rwanda in the 2012 London Olympic Games cross-country mountain bike race. With the Tour of Morocco (March 23- April 6) waiting in the wings, Ferwacy is set to organise another trial race on February 17. Other high profile races on Team Rwanda’s calendar include Gabon’s La Tropicale Amissa Bongo (April 24-29), Tour of Eritrea (May 30-June 3), Kwita Izina (June 10-11) and the Tour of Rio (August 30-September 3) in Brazil.

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Youngster gears up for cycling clinic