Prologue 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)

With some of the big names in African cycling expected to compete in the 2016 Tour du Rwanda, the annual race promises to be the most competitive edition since its inception on the UCI-Africa calendar in 2009.

For the first time the race will reach the southwestern part of the country following the addition of two new routes; Karongi-Rusizi (115.9km) and Rusizi-Huye (140.7km), which will see the riders race through Rwanda’s vast tropical rainforest of Nyungwe.

During the upcoming 8th edition, Rwanda will be represented by three teams, which include; Team Rwanda, Benediction Club from Rubavu District, and Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana.

Previously, Rwanda was fielding three national teams – Akagera, Karisimbi and Muhabura. Rwandan riders have won the past two editions through Valens Ndayisenga and Jean-Bosco Nsegimana, respectively.

Here Times Sport looks at the cyclists who are expected to grab most of the headlines during the week-long, seven-stage 2.2 UCI African Tour race, scheduled for November 13-20.

This year’s edition is set to attract 85 riders and 17 teams from different parts of the world.Jean-Bosco Nsengimana (Stradalli – Bike Aid)

For many riders, a top four overall finish and a mountain stage win would be a dream in such a race, but when you’re the Tour du Rwanda defending champion, the pressure is too high.

On the balance of what teams will bring to the dais, the stakes will be higher this time round than it was in the last two editions that have been dominated by Team Rwanda with ultimate victories for Valens Ndayisenga in 2014 and Nsengimana in 2015.

Interestingly, the two riders will be competing against each other for the podium. The former will be riding for South Africa’s Dimension Data for Qhubeka while the latter will represent Germany-based Continental Team Stradalli – Bike Aid.

For Nsengimana, who won three stages and held on to the yellow jersey from start to finish last year, if he wins this year’s race, he will make history for becoming the first rider to do so.

To retain the yellow jersy, he needs to do what he’s always done: Win the time trial, win more stages and let his team shut down attacks from his rivals. If he won, he would become the first Bike Aid rider to win Tour du Rwanda.Gasore Hategeka (Team Rwanda)

Hategeka won the first stage in the Tour de Côte d’Ivoire in September this year, and the 29-year old is optimistic about his chances of winning the yellow jersey of the Tour du Rwanda this year.

In last year’s edition, he finished in 32rd position, but he recently told Times Sport that he believes this is his time with the race coming at the peak of his form.

The winner of the 2016 Rwanda Cycling Cup needs to attack early and often. As soon as the race hits stage 5 (Muhanga-Musanze, 125.8km), he needs to go on the offensive since he is used to the route.

"I am pleased with the way I am racing this year, and I feel really confident about my chances of winning the race this year, I have been improving every race and feel stronger than ever. I know my level of competition improved,” Gasore told Times Sport last week.

Gasore, riding for Benediction Club, won two races in this year’s Rwanda Cycling Cup, namely; the ‘Central Challenge’, from Kayonza to Muhanga and the ‘Muhazi Challenge’.

He finished top with 152 points, followed by Amis Sportif riders Jean Claude Uwizeye (138 points) and Joseph Areruya, with 132 points.

Metkel Eyob (Dimension Data)

If there’s one thing you can’t do with Metkel, its counting him off, because he is someone who does the unexpected. Having finished in the fourth and third positions in the previous two editions, respectively, the Eritrean is an exciting talent. He will be riding for Dimension Data.

Metkel is a specialist climber and so his rivals should be wary of that ability – he won the Combative Mountain jersey in 2014. If he can avoid losing time in the first stages due to crashes or similar setbacks, he could challenge for a podium finish.

Mekseb is ranked 11th in Africa and his record speaks for itself; he’s only the second rider to have won four stages in Tour du Rwanda, a record he shares with American Keil Reijnen.Azzadine Lagab (Algeria)

He is the star attraction for Algeria who finished 10th in the 2013 edition.

He might not be the tour’s best climber or time realist but he can take advantage of the race’s more deceptively difficult stages. He is aggressive on the descent. Abderrahmane Mansour (Algeria)

For a lesson in just how consistent some riders can be, look no further than Abderrahmana Mansour. He is consistent in the road race. He won the Algerian Championships, Tour of Tunisia, finished 3rd at the 2016 Rio Olympics road race and during the Tour of Senegal, and is ranked 4th on the continent by UCI.Tesfom Okbamariam (Team Sharjah, Dubai)

Tesfom Okbamariam is now at the top of the 2016 UCI Africa Tour ranking. He and his compatriot Elyas Afewerki turned pro in April, signing for Dubai-based Continental Team Sharjah. Meron Russom is the other sprinter in the team, who will be seeking to impress. Others

Other riders to watch include: Chris Butler, Guillaume Boivin and Luis Lemus (Cycling Academy Team) – their team will be racing in Rwanda for the first time.

Boivin finished 3rd at the World Under-23 Road Championships in 2009, while Butler finished 3rd at the Vuelta a La Independencia Nacional race. Lemus, a Mexican, raced in Rio Olympics road race.

Also not to be overlooked will be Rwandans Valens Ndayisenge and Joseph Areruya (Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana), who finished second last year as well as compatriot sprinter Boneventure Uwizeyimana (Dimension Data), and Amanuel Gebrereigzabhier (Dimension Data) and Junrey Navarra (Dimension Data).

editorial@newtimes.co.rw