Tour du Rwanda squad named

Rwanda has named her squad for this year’s Tour du Rwanda.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Rwanda has named her squad for this year’s Tour du Rwanda.

The Rwanda Cycling Federation (Ferwacy) named a 12-man team for the event scheduled for August 16-24 yesterday and remained confident that the team would finish top in the nine-day event that will attract over five African countries.

According to Ferwacy technical director Emmanuel Murenzi, the team was selected from the country’s different cycling clubs.

"The team has experienced cyclists who we believe will represent us well,” Murenzi said.

Rwanda’s ace cyclist Nyandwi Uwase heads the team that also includes Adrien Niyonshuti, Abraham Ruhumuriza and Obed Ruvogera among others.

The Tour will start at Amahoro stadium, Kigali on August 16 to Ruhenegri, Northern Province covering a distance of 122km.

On August 18, cyclists will ride 142km from Kigali to Karongi in Western Province.

On 19th, the cyclists will ride from Karongi to Huye, Southern Province covering 164km.

On August 20, they will cover a distance of 148km from Huye to Kigali.

After a one-day break, the tour will resume on August 22 with a 40km stretch from Kigali top Bugesera.

On 23rd, Cyclists will contest in the longest stretch (171km) of the tour from Kigali to Nyagatare before winding up the return race to Kigali on August 24.

So far, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi have confirmed participation while Mauritius has expressed interest.

The Ministry of Culture and Sport are the key sponsors after bankrolling the event to a tune of Frw 25 million.

Ends