Tour du Rwanda routesPrologue stage, Nov. 13: Amahoro Stadium-Amahoro Stadium (3.3km)Stage 1, Nov.14: Kigali-Ngoma (96.4km)Stage 2, Nov. 15: Kigali Convention center-Karongi (124.7km)Stage 3, Nov. 16: Karongi-Rusizi (115.9km)Stage 4, Nov. 17 Rusizi-Huye (140.7km)Stage 5, Nov. 18 Muhanga-Musanze (125.8km)Stage 6, Nov. 19 Musanze-Kigali Regional Stadium (103.9km)Stage 7, Nov. 20 Kigali Amahoro Stadium-Kigali Amahoro Stadium (108.0km)

This year’s Tour du Rwanda will be better and more exciting than previous editions, the Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY) president, Aimable Bayingana, has promised.

The eighth edition of the annual event will take place from November 13 to November 20, and is expected to attract 17 teams, comprising five riders each, totaling to 85 riders competing for the top prize.

"We want to have better event than previously. We have started preparations early enough and we believe we will be able to have a wonderful race,” Bayingana told Sunday Sport.

He added, "We believe the competition will be better and we believe event will be more precious than what we have organised before. The national team will be ready for the challenge.”

Bayingana confirmed that Rwanda will maintain the three teams of Karasimbi, Muhabura and Akagera, as they bid to successfully defend the title they have won in the last two editions through Valens Ndayisenga and Jean Bosco Nsengimana, both riding for Team Rwanda Karisimbi.

Just like last year, six professional teams will be maintained for this year’s edition. The six are; Team Loup Sport, (Switerzland), Savoie Rhone-Alpen (France), Global cycling team (Netherlands) and Bike Aid (Germany), debutants Scoddy DownUnder (Australia) and Novo Nordisk Development (USA).

The African national teams will be from Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Morocco and South Africa.

Ndayisenga became the first Rwandan cyclist to win the Tour du Rwanda since its inception on the 2.2 Union Cycliste Internationale Africa calendar in 2009.

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