Rwanda Cycling Federation and Team Rwanda (cycling) have unveiled the final team to represent the country at this year’s African Road Race Championship. The 2016 edition is scheduled for February 21-26 in Casablanca, Morocco.

According to officials, Team Rwanda has been preparing for the annual event since the first week of January at the African Rising Cycling Center (ARCC) in Musanze.

Rwanda will be represented by eleven riders, the largest contingency of Rwandan cyclists at a continental race since 2010 when the country hosted the Road Championship.

The 11-member squad includes eight U23/Elite men, two juniors (boys) and one female.

The Men’s elite team is comprised of Valens Ndayisenga, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Patrick Byukusenge, Jean Claude Uwizeye, Joseph Areruya, Jeremie Karegeya and Joseph Biziyaremye. Samuel Mugisha will compete in the U23 category.

The junior men’s category comprises of Fidel Ally Dukuzumuremyi and Rene Ukiniwabo while Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu will be the only female rider on the team for the week-long competition.

Making her second appearance at the annual continental championships after her 2015 debut, Girubuntu will be racing in the Individual Time Trial (ITT) and Road Race, according to trainer, Sterling Magnell.

"Girubuntu has made tremendous progress since last year’s continental championships; she’s a year older, stronger and wiser. I have been closely working with her one on one to perfect her position and optimise the power she had on the bike, her natural talent is going to show up on race day,” Magnell said.

Regarding the men’s team, Magnell said, "The team slightly has a new look, two of our top cyclists (Janvier Hadi and Jean Bosco Nsengimana) have graduated but the core is still made up of riders I have been working with for the past year, they are in great form and ready to deliver.”

The 2014 Tour du Rwanda champion Ndayisenga and Areruya will compete in the Individual Time Trial, and will be joined by Biziyaremye and Byukusenge for Team Time Trial. Thereafter, all the riders will compete in the Road Race.

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