Race stages

Today: Kango- Lambarene (146km)Jan 19: Fuogamou- Muoila (105km)Jan 20: Lambarene- Ndjole (135km)Jan 21: Oyem- Ambam (141km)Jan 22: MeyoKie- Oyem (119km)Jan 23: Friendship stadium Akanda (4km)Jan 24: CAP- Esterias Libreville (132km)

The Rwanda cycling team will start their bid for a historic first yellow jersey at the 11th edition of the annual Tropicale Amissa Bongo Tour today in Gabon.

The race will run until January 24.

The team of six which left the country on Friday is expected to put up a good fight against the best on the continent and elsewhere.

However, the reigning Tour du Rwanda champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana, who travelled with his colleagues, will ride for his new Germany-based team, Bike Aid.

Before departure, the team had a two-week training camp prior to the festive break, and resumed training at Musanze-based Africa Rising Cycling Centre held from January 4 – 13.

Team Rwanda Cycling team includes All Africa Games gold medalist and team captain Janvier Hadi, Joseph Areruya, the second runner-up at last year’s Tour du Rwanda, Camera Hakuzimana and Jean Claude Uwizeye.

Others are; Emile Bintunimana, stage three winner of last year’s Tour du Rwanda and Patrick Byukusenge.

In 2014, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana became the first Rwandan to win a stage at the Tropicale Amissa Bongo, winning Stage 5. Coached by Felix Sempoma, mechanic Jamie Bissell and physiotherapist Obed Ruvogera have also accompanied the team.

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