Tomorrow

Rio to Angra (158km)

Team Rwanda Cycling are keen on putting up a strong showing at the annual Tour do Rio, scheduled to start tomorrow through August 30 in Brazil.

The six-man team, comprised of captain Janvier Hadi, national champion Joseph Biziyaremye, Jean Bosco Nsengimana, Patrick Byukusenge, Joseph Aleluya and Camera Hakuzimana, will be hoping to make Rwanda’s return to the UCI America Tour race a memorable one as they prepare for the All Africa Games, set for September 4-19 in Congo Brazzaville.

Team Rwanda Cycling coach Sterling Magnell told Times Sport in an exclusive interview on Sunday that, "It is the first time I am going to see them race at this level (international stage) and I will see how they are faring at the moment”.

Magnell, a former US national champion who has competed in races on the UCI America Tour in Argentina and Uruguay, explained:"They are really, really hard races and really fast. There can be crazy things in the road, crazy fans and very aggressive riding. The level of competition is very high.”

Meanwhile, Magnell disclosed that he was impressed with the team’s performance at the recently concluded Western Circuit over the weekend, from Muhanga to Karongi as part of the Rwanda Cycling Cup.

"What I am really happy with is practically over the weekend, I saw Patrick implementing the feedback that I gave him which was ‘think less and take more risks, you got to go for it, you are strong and you should go for it,’” he said in reference to Byukusenge’s comfortable victory with a 2:46 advantage over his rivals.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw