Tour du Rwanda routes

Prologue stage, Nov. 15: Amahoro Stadium(3.5km)

Stage 1, Nov. 16: Nyagatare-Rwamagana (135km)

Stage 2, Nov. 17: Kigali-Huye (120km)

Stage 3, Nov. 18: Kigali-Musanze (95km)

Stage 4, Nov. 19: Musanze-Nyanza (160km)

Stage 5, Nov. 20: Muhanga-Rubavu (140km)

Stage 6, Nov. 21: Rubavu-Kigali (165km)

Stage 7, Nov. 22: Kigali-Kigali (120km)

Team Rwanda riders are in the right frame of mind to compete in this year’s Tour du Rwanda, which is scheduled for November 15-22, according to the Rwanda Cycling Federation president Aimable Bayingana.

While addressing a press conference held at Classic Hotel on Thursday evening, Bayingana said that what happened before the competition, will not affect the performance of the three Team Rwanda teams.

"We had problem of indiscipline with riders but that will not affect our performance during the tour. They raised the issue at the wrong moment but we have sorted out everything.  Riders are in good spirit and focused on retaining Tour du Rwanda,” Bayingana said.

Early this week, Team Rwanda riders threatened to go on strike if FERWACY doesn’t give them US$3000 each for insurance, but the federation, led by Bayingana, instead of talking to the riders, rather gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to either drop their demands of be replaced by other riders.

However, after an emergence meeting involving all stake holders, the riders agreed to return to Team Rwanda Cycling camp in Musanze.

Bayingana, who had early said they would select new riders and enter two teams instead of three, on Thursday said there’s no change from the original arrangement as all fifteen riders will compete in the seven-day UCI Africa 2.2 race.

"We have discussed and everything is very fine. Riders are committed to put on a good performance and retain the Tour du Rwanda. It will be difficult because there are many strong teams but we believe our team can do much better than last year.”

He said morale in camp is on high and the riders are responding very well since returning to training on Monday.

According to Bayingana, this year’s race will cost an estimated Rwf00m in organization including accommodating all the teams. The winner will receive US$1800.

The sponsors of the event include Skol, Congebaque, Minispoc, RDB, Soras, Turkish Airlines, Esp, Ameki Coral, Inyange, Rwandair among others.

This year’s race will attract 75 riders, five for each of the 15 teams include, South Africa, Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Bike Aid, Global Cycling Team, Team Novo Nordisc Development, Team Haute Savoie Rhone Alpes and Team Loup Sports and including three teams of Rwanda, Team Kalisimbi, Team Muhabura and Team Akagera.

The new thing in the race will be the merchandizing t-shirts, wristbands and other things during Tour du Rwanda.

Last year Valens Ndayisenga became the first Rwandan rider to win the prestigious Tour du Rwanda since it was incorporated on the International Cycling Union (UCI) calendar in 2009.

The 20-year old won the race after clocking 24 hours 57 minutes and 10 seconds en-route to winning the 8-day 933,8km race. He was followed by teammates Jean Bosco Nsengimana in second and Joseph Biziyaremye, who came on fourth position.

The eight-day event will have two new routes including stage one from Nyagatare to Rwamagana, a total distance of 135km and the biggest cycling event in Rwanda returns to Huye with stage two from Kigali (Nyabugogo) to Huye, a distance of 120km.

Apart from Ndayisenga, no other former champion has entered for the twice.

Teams riders

Team Rwanda teams:

Karisimbi: Patrick Byukusenge, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Jean Bosco Nsengimana, Valens Ndayisenga and Janvier Hadi (captain). Reserve: Aimee Mpenzi.

Muhabura: Ephrem Tuyishimire, Emile Bintunimana, Camera Hakuzimana, Gasore Hategeka and Nathan Byukusenge (captain)

Akagera:Jean Claude Uwizeye, Jeremie Karegeya, Joseph Biziyaremye, Joseph Areruya and Abraham Ruhumuriza (captain).

South Africa: Smit Wilie, Kruger Hendrik, Tennent James, Bonthuys Carl and Ihlenfleldt Stephan.

Kenya:Kangangi Suleiman, Gichora Kamau Joseph, Ariko Paul, Ekuru Samuel and Kathurima Ayub.

Eritrea:Teshome Meron, Afewerki Elias, Gebreigzabhier Amanuel, Eyob Metkel, Okubamariam Tesfom and Debretsion Aron.

Team Novo Nordisk Development:Dacal Brais, Jelinic Zvonimir, Poli Umberto, Mini Emanuel and Saidov Ulugbek.

Team Haute-Savoie Rhône-Alpes:Bescond Jérémy, Muffat Adrien, Clavel Sylvain, Chavanne Joris and Liponne Julien.

Bike Aid:Meron Amanuel, Debesay Mekseb, Schafer Timo, Beck Joschka and Bichlmann Daniel.

Global Cycling Team:  Woestenberg Peter, Breewel Jeroen, Kos Patrick and Van Gils Arne

Team Loup Sport:  Stocker Manuel, Kyburtz Michael, Winterberg Lukas, Paroz Justin and Muhl Sandro.

Ethiopia:BuruTegemesgen, Fissaha Belay, Kahsay Afewerki, Hafetab Weldu and Zeray Weldearegay

Egypt:Islam Shawk, Ragaey Islam Nasser, Mahmoud Osama Ahmed, Soliman Abdallah Mohamed,  Helal Yousseff and Elsayed Mohamed.

Algeria:Lagab Azeddine, Hadjbouzit Kalim, Belmoukhtar Boualem, Boudjemaa Youcef and Bechlagheme Abderrahmane.

Morocco:Saber Lahcen, AAdel Reda, Hida Abdellah, Chaqri Aziz and Ait Abdia Anass.

Past winners since 2009:

2009       Adil Jelloul (MAR)

2010       Daniel Teklehaymanot (ERI)

2011       Kiel Reijnen (USA)

2012       Darren Lill (RSA)

2013       Dylan Girdlestone (RSA)

2014       Valens Ndayisenga (RWA)

2015       ?