Rwanda’s veteran cyclist Adrien Niyonshuti has challenged six younger compatriots who are set to make their debut in the annual Tour du Rwanda competition to maximise the advantage of competing on home turf.

The 8th edition of the UCI-Africa Tour 2.2 road race gets underway this Sunday and runs until November 20 with riders traversing the country. Skol are the main sponsors of the race.

Rwanda will field a total of 15 riders who will be divided into three teams (Team Rwanda, Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana and Benediction Club) of five (riders) each.

But three other Rwandans, including the competition’s reigning champion, will take part, albeit representing foreign clubs. The 2014 Tour due Rwanda champion Valens Ndayisenga and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana will be riding for South Africa-based UCI Continental Team Dimension Data, while reigning champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana will be representing his German side, Stradalli Bike Aid.

Among the 15 riders that will carry Rwanda’s flag, six are new faces, all under 20 years of age, and will be making their debut in the annual road race

They include; Eric Nduwayo (Team Rwanda), Samuel Mugisha, Jean Ruberwa, and Alex Nizeyimana (Benediction Club) as well as Mathieu Twizerane and Samuel Hakiruwizeye (Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana).

Speaking to Times Sport three days ahead of the race, Niyonshuti, 29, winner of Tour du Rwanda in 2008 – a year before the competition was incorporated on the UCI Africa tour calendar –, visited the riders at the Africa Rising Cycling Centre in Musanze and gave them tips

"This year’s edition presents a great opportunity for young and upcoming riders; they have a chance to showcase their skills and potential. It’s an opportunity to attract interest from top UCI Continental teams,” said Niyonshuti, who will not compete in this year’s Tour du Rwanda.

Niyonshuti, Rwanda’s first professional cyclist, added: "It’s a good platform which they can use to prove to the world that they are good enough to join the world’s best teams and I have urged them not to waste this chance.”

"I think the (national cycling) federation (FERWACY) has made a good decision to take clubs to Tour du Rwanda because it would otherwise have been hard for youngsters to break into the national team.”

"Now they have a chance to prove that they can outshine elite riders from such countries as Eritrea, Algeria and South Africa, they have a chance to win a major competition in Tour du Rwanda,” he added.

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).

The 15 riders who will be representing Rwanda in the race are expected to relocate to Kigali from Musanze today ahead of the opening 3.3km prologue stage at Amahoro National Stadium on Sunday.

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