Cycling: Triumphant Cyclists return home

NATIONAL Cycling Team returned this afternoon from Morocco where they have been competing at this year’s African Continental Road Championship.

Tuesday, March 01, 2016
Team Rwanda Cycling on their return from Morocco. (Faustin Niyigena)

NATIONAL Cycling Team returned this afternoon from Morocco where they have been competing at this year’s African Continental Road Championship.

After winning one gold and two silver medals at the week-long continental showpiece staged from February 21 to 26 in Casablanca, the delegation led by head coach Jonathan Boyer arrived in the country at 2pm today.

"This is our biggest success in African Championships; the future for cycling in Rwanda is clearly brighter. Girubuntu was outstanding and the boys did great. It’s a matter of time and we achieve more and bigger honors because there is will and talent in this team,” American-born technician Boyer told Times Sport upon the arrival.

Jeanne d'Arc Girubuntu (L) and Valens Ndayisenga (R) with silver and golden medals respectively on arrival from Morocco. (Faustin Niyigena)

Of the eleven riders who competed at the African championship in Morocco, only five returned as the remaining six namely; Patrick Byukusenge, Joseph Areruya, Joseph Biziyaremye, Jeremie Karegeya, Jean Claude Uwizeye and Samuel Mugisha, directly connected to Algeria for this year’s Grand Cycling Tour of Algeria, running from March 4 to 28.

Among cyclists who returned is, Valens Ndayisenga, who won gold in Men’s U23 category in Individual Time Trial and Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu who claimed silver in women’s Individual Time Trial. Others are Bonaventure Uwizeyimana and youngsters Rene Ukiniwabo and Ally Fidel Dukuzumuremyi.