Rwanda national cycling team are eyeing a podium finish in the men’s road race at Continental Road Championship that climaxes today in Casablanca, Morocco.

Rwanda will have eight riders in today’s race, the most prestigious and most grueling piece of competition of the week-long continental showpiece which started on February 21.

Battling for today’s medals are; Valens Ndayisenge, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Patrick Byukusenge (captain), Jean Claude Uwizeye, Joseph Areruya, Jeremie Karegeya, Joseph Biziyaremye and youngster Samuel Mugisha who is marking his maiden cap in the senior national team.

Should any of team Rwanda cyclists snatch a medal today, it will be a historic first medal for the country in this category.

It will also be the third medal for Rwanda at this year’s edition of the annual meet following a silver medal won by Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu in women’s Individual Time Trial (ITT) on Tuesday and gold medal by Valens Ndayisenga in Men’s ITT in U23 category on Wednesday.

For Jonathan Boyer’s men to shine, they will have to overcome stiff challenge from Africa’s best such as Morocco’s Lahsaini Mouhssine, Ethiopia’s Grmay Tsgabu Gebremaryam, former Tour du Rwanda champion Daniel Teklemainot (Eritrea) and compatriot Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier as well as Abderrahmane Bechlaghem of Algeria among others.

In a telephone interview with Times Sport from Morocco on Thursday, Aimable Bayingana, the Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY) president, said they have full confidence in the team, citing that the cyclists are talented, fit and well prepared for the duty awaiting them today.

On Thursday, teenagers Jean Paul Rene Ukiniwabo and Ally Fidel Dukuzumuremyi competed in men’s junior road race category but none of them managed a podium finish as Ukiniwabo missed the bronze medal by four seconds after using 3 hours, 1 minute and 53 seconds in the 120km long competition while compatriot Dukuzumuremyi (03:07:30) finished at the bottom of the 13-rider race.

Algeria’s Hamza Mansouri (02:55:57) won gold, Christopher Rougier (02:55:58) of Mauritius won silver while Abdelraouf Bengayou also from Algeria clocked 03:01:49 to take the bronze medal.

A total of 19 young riders from five countries (Algeria, Mauritius, Angola, Rwanda and Morocco) started the race but only 13 completed.

Later in the evening, sensational Girubuntu was supposed to compete in women’s elite road race category but it was yet to be flagged off by press time.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw