Rwanda Cycling Federation (Ferwacy) and Team Rwanda Cycling will officially open the Africa Rising Cycling Centre today in Musanze District.

During the ceremony will be the announcement of plan for the Africa Rising Cycling Centre, which started their daily operations in February.

The centre will not only benefit the development of young Rwandan riders but also riders from neighbouring countries.

The Africa Rising Cycling Center (ARCC) will also be opening up enormous opportunities for the continent’s promising cyclists.

Sixteen houses, a fully equipped service course, an education center, an organic vegetable garden and ARCR is aiming high and wants to share its facilities located in the northern Musanze district, at 2000m altitude.

"The centre is self-contained and everything is on the spot,” explains Jock Boyer, former professional, rider and national coach.  

He is the one who, in 2007, discovered Adrien Niyonshuti, now a professional with MTN-Qhubeka and Rwanda’s flag-bearer at the London Olympic Games.

With the new ARCC, Boyer means to continue the incredible development of cycling on the African continent and attract teams from further afield.

"Other African nations can use it as a training center and European teams can come for high altitude training and good weather at the end of the European season,” he says.

Africa Rising Cycling Centre will offer mountain bike and road bike tours using Rwanda national team cyclists as guides. Team Rwanda will be using cycling to promote tourism in the area.

Meanwhile, Team Rwanda left the country on Friday ahead of this year’s Tour of Democratic Republic of Congo, scheduled to run from March 17- 26.

This is the second time Team Rwanda competes in the annual race. The three-man team includes; skipper Nathan Byukusenge, Abraham Ruhumuriza and Janvier Hadi.