Rwanda Cycling team left the country on Friday afternoon to participate in this year’s Continental Road Championships slated for February 21-26 in Casablanca, Morocco.

Rwanda will be represented by eleven riders competing in three categories namely; Men’s elite, Women’s elite and Men’s junior category. This is the biggest contingency, the country has ever sent at a continental competition since 2010 when the country hosted the tournament.

The team has been in intensive training at the Musanze-based Africa Rising Cycling Center (ARCC) since the first week of January, under the guidance of coach, Sterling Magnell.

The Men’s elite team includes; Tour du Rwanda 2014 champion Valens Ndayisenge, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Patrick Byukusenge (captain), Jean Claude Uwizeye, Joseph Areruya, Jeremie Karegeya and Joseph Biziyaremye. Samuel Mugisha will race in the Men’s U23 category.

The junior category has Fidel Ally Dukuzumuremyi and Rene Ukiniwabo while Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu is the lone female representative, and will compete in the Individual Time Trial and Road Race.

"We are confident of our boys, their talent and cycling abilities are overwhelming, and I will be looking to an impressive performance in Team Time Trial (TTT) and road race. In the Individual Time Trial (ITT), we are always strong, I am looking for a surprise performance,” Magnell said in a recent interview.

South Africa’s Team Dimension Data (formerly MTN Qhubeka) rider Ndayisenga and Areruya will race in ITT, and while together with Biziyaremye and Byukusenge will form a quartet for Team Time Trial (TTT) contest and later join the rest for Road Race.

The delegation to Morocco also includes technical director Jonathan Boyer, Jamie Bissell (mechanic) and physiotherapist, Obedi Ruvogera.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw