Team Rwanda rider Valens Ndayisenga is a confident man ahead of this year’s Tour du Rwanda edition that runs from 16-23 November.

The 20-year-old won stage 2 of last year’s race and finished 11th in the General Classification.

After several training stints in Canada, Switzerland and France this year, Ndayisenga is keen to challenge the best on the continent with an eye on the coveted yellow jersey that has eluded the country.

"I have gained lots of experience from training alongside good riders in Switzerland and France.

The coaches have also given us useful tips on how to win such elite races,” a bullish Ndayisenga said in a phone interview.

The cyclists are currently in residential training at the Africa Rising Cycling Center and will be joined by Eritrean and Ethiopian riders soon, something that Team Rwanda Coach Jonathan Boyer says will give his riders good competitive training.

Tour du Rwanda has attracted 16 teams from South Africa, Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon, Gabon, the USA (Novo Nordisk Development Team), France (Haute Savoie) and Germany (Team Bike Aid).

The 8 day race will start from Amahoro stadium and then run through seven stages: Kigali-Kibungo, Rwamagana-Musanze, Musanze-Muhanga, Muhanga-Rubavu, and Rubavu-Nyanza and conclude in Kigali.