Rwanda international Jean Bosco Nsengimana has challenged his teammates to not let go of Rwanda’s dominance of Tour du Rwanda as home riders bid for a fifth title in a row since 2014. The 2015 Tour du Rwanda winner appealed to his compatriots following what he described as ‘extraordinary preparations’ they have had for this year’s upcoming edition. The 2018 Tour du Rwanda is slated for August 5-12 across different parts of the country. The 24-year old cycling sensation is one of the 20 riders who have been intensively preparing for the 10th Tour du Rwanda since last month at Musanze-based Africa Cycling Rising Center. The former Germany’s UCI continental team – Stradalli Bike Aid – rider who is likely to lead Team Rwanda at this year’s edition revealed to Times Sport that Rwandan riders in camp are fit, confident and determined to win this year’s title than any other previous edition. The forthcoming Tour du Rwanda marks its final edition as a UCI 2.2 category race before its scheduled upgrade UCI Africa Tour 2.1 race effective next year. “We have to retain the (Tour du Rwanda) title, I’m very confident and I share the same mentality with each rider on the team. We have had fantastic preparations and everyone is ready to fight the good fight and make our country proud again,” said the club Benediction rider Africa’s top-rated Joseph Areruya, who currently plies his trade at Franch side Delko Marseille Provence KTM, is the reigning champion but will not defend his title as his team is not part of the sixteen teams to participate in Tour du Rwanda this year. “Over the past few years, the trend of winning Tour du Rwanda and failing outside the country has progressively changed. Now we are one of the most respected teams on the continent. The more we win, the hungrier we get for more victories,” Nsengimana further noted. Nsengimana, who also holds the record best time in Tour du Rwanda’s prologue – 3 minutes and 46 seconds – that he set last year, is regarded as one of the top candidates for this year’s title after his impressive performance in build-up races over the weekend. He won the Musanze – Karongi (135.8km) race last Saturday before finishing second in Karongi – Rubavu (95.1km) race behind youngster Didier Munyaneza the following day. Since 2014 when Valens Ndayisenga made history of becoming the first Rwandan to win Tour du Rwanda, no foreign cyclist has ever been able to win the annual race. In 2015, Nsengimana dethroned Ndayisenga to win the title before the later – then riding for South African side Dimension Data for Qhubeka – reclaimed it in 2016, making history as the only rider to win Tour du Rwanda twice since it became part of the UCI Africa Tour. The hosts will be represented by three teams led by the national team (Team Rwanda), Club Benediction from Rubavu and Les Amis Sportifs from Rwamagana. Meanwhile, Team Rwanda has been boosted by the addition of Team Dimension Data’s Samuel Mugisha, the 2016 King of the Mountains. The 20-year old youngster is also fresh from winning a similar title at the 55th edition of Italy’s Giro Della Valle d’Aosta a fortnight ago. He will race for Team Rwanda while preparing for his debut at Tour de l’Avenir in France come August 17-26. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
