Rwanda Cycling team to race in Morocco

Following the successful Tour du Rwanda two weeks ago, Rwanda Cycling team has resumed training at the Africa Rising Cycling Centre in preparation for the upcoming Challenge des Phosphates in Morocco from December 17-20.

Thursday, December 03, 2015
Jean Bosco Nsengimana led the 2015 Tour du Rwnda from start to finish. (Sam Ngendahimana)

Following the successful Tour du Rwanda two weeks ago, Rwanda Cycling team has resumed training at the Africa Rising Cycling Centre in preparation for the upcoming Challenge des Phosphates in Morocco from December 17-20.

Six riders including; Janvier Hadi, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Patrick Byukusenge, Joseph Areruya, Camera Hakuzimana and the 2015 Tour du Rwanda winner Jean Bosco Nsengimana will compete in the Moroccan event.

The team will be under coach Felix Sempoma and Jamie Bissell is the team mechanic.

The six are training alongside other riders like the 2014 Tour du Rwanda champions Valens Ndayisenga, Jean Claude Uwizeye and veteran Abraham Ruhumuriza as they prepare for the last race of this year’s UCI Africa Tour.

The four-day event has three races including Grand Prix de Youssoufia on December 17, Grand Prix de Ben Guerir on December 18 and the Grand Prix de Khouribga on December 20.

Team Rwanda Technical Director, Jonathan ‘Jock’ Boyer said, "This Morocco preparation training camp is not only important for the Morocco races but also starts a new base for 2016.”

"In 2016 the Africa Tour has more races scheduled than ever before in addition to another year of the Rwanda Cycling Cup. The momentum and level on the African continent is growing rapidly and we must be prepared for the advancement of the sport,” added the former American professional cyclist.

The team’s participation in this event is to ensure Rwanda secures a slot to the Rio 2016 Olympics with Hadi currently sitting in 10th place with 136.33 points while Nsengimana has 127 points in 13th position.

The top 10 riders at the end of the year will win a bid for their countries to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Team Rwanda Kalisimbi won Tour du Rwanda for second consecutive time after Nsengimana clocked 23:54:50 in a distance of 938.5km.

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