The 2016 Rwanda Cycling Cup resumes this Saturday with the fourth event dubbed ‘Race for Culture’, which will start from Nyamagabe District and finish in Nyanza District.

The Race for Culture will include the men’s elite race covering a distance of 119.6km, the U-18 category (98.8km) as well as the female category to cover 88.4km.

But some key riders will not take part. They include Rwanda U-23 quartet Jean Bosco Nsengimana, Jean Claude Uwizeye, Samuel Mugisha and Joseph Areruya, currently in the UK.

Patrick Byukusenge is also among the other riders to miss the race because he’s serving a suspension, while Eric Manizabayo and Karadiyo Uwineza, who got involved in accidents during training, are the other notable absentees.

Despite this, Rwanda Cycling Federation permanent secretary Emmanuel Murenzi the competition will go on as planned.

"All the teams have other riders to replace those missing; there is no reason why the competition can be postponed. Those who are missing are few and it will be an opportunity for others to showcase their ability,” Murenzi told Times Sport.

Rwanda Cycling Cup is made up of 10 racing events, with four having already taken place namely: Course des Fermiers, Race to Remember, Kivu Race and National Championship.

The remaining races include: Northern Circuit, Muhanzi Challenge (both set for August), Central Challenge, Kivu Belt as well as the Nyungwe Challenge scheduled in September and October, respectively.

Areruya won the Course des Fermiers and Kivu Race, while Patrick Byukusenge won the Race to Remember in May.

The National Championship Individual Time Trial race was claimed by the 2016 Rio Olympic Road race representative Adrien Niyonshuti, while Bonaventure Uwizeyimana won the road race.

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