Team Rwanda head coach Jonathan Boyer is seeking to use the upcoming Africa Mountain Bike Tour, which will be held in Musanze from May 8-10 to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Rwanda Cycling Federation will host this year’s Africa Mountain Bike Tour and the American trainer says the riders want to challenge for a place at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

"Our aim is to look for the qualification which is very difficult because we will be competing with big countries like South Africa and it will be hard to win the race but we will try our best to make the country proud,” Boyer stated.

The former Tour du Rwanda rider noted, "The race will be difficult, but our riders are strong and they have been improving and we hope they will do a good job.”

Team Rwanda will comprise seven elite riders and one junior for the 2-day continental competition.

Cyclists from Egypt, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Rwanda have registered to participate in the race that is also a qualifier for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Back in 2011, Rwanda professional Adrien Niyonshuti finished in fourth position at the cycling continental race in Jonkershoek-South Africa to become the first Rwandan to be eligible to compete in  mountain bike racing at the Olympics where he finished 39th at the London 2012 Olympics.

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