The wait is over and the stage is set for the eighth edition of Tour du Rwanda that starts, today, in Kigali and will run across the country until November 20.

The 2.2 UCI-Africa Tour road race has this year attracted over 70 riders that will be featuring for 15 teams, including three local ones.

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 reigning champion, will take part representing foreign clubs.

2014 Tour du 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.

Team Rwanda, under the guidance of American trainer Sterling Magnell, comprises Nathan Byukusenge (captain), Abraham Ruhumuriza, Joseph Biziyaremye, Gasore Hategeka, and Eric Nduwayo.

Benediction Club has Patrick Byukusenge, Samuel Mugisha, Jean Ruberwa, Jeremy Karegeya, and Alex Nizeyimana, while Les Amis Sportif will be made up of Joseph Areruya, Jean Claude Uwizeye, Mathieu Twizerane, Ephrem Tuyishimireand Samuel Hakiruwizeye.

This will be the first time that the two clubs – Les Amis Sportif and Benediction – will be competing in the annual event.

Among the 12 foreign teams include five national teams; Cameroon, South Africa, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Algeria, four UCI continental teams, including Dimension Data For Qhubeka (South-Africa), Kenyan Riders Downunder (Kenya), Cycling Academy Team (Israel), and Stradalli-Bike Aid (Germany).

Team Lowest rates.Com (Canada), Team Haute-Savoie Rhone-Alpes (France) and Team Furniture Decarte (Switzerland) will complete the rostrum.

This year’s edition has a total of seven stages and a prologue race and will cover a total distance of 818.7 kilometres, some 20.593 metres more than last year’s, and a total of 38 climbing stages.

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).

Since 2009 when Tour du Rwanda became part of the UCI-Africa Tour, a total of 330 riders, representing 37 countries and five continents, have participated in the annual event.

Prizes up for grabs

This year’s edition will cost an estimated Rwf460 million compared to the 2014 and 2015 editions that cost an estimated Rwf400 million, while about Rwf372 million was spent during the 2013 edition.

For the last two editions, financial rewards have given to stage winners, classification leader, and every cyclist who finishes in the top 20. Riders can also bag a bonus on mountain climbs.

And this year’s prize pot has even swelled further. More is on offer than ever before.

The top 20 riders in the prologue race will be shared with $910 (about Rwf734,000).

Some $1,800 (about Rwf1.4 millio) is up for grabs for the top 20 riders at each stage. A stage winner will pocket $680 (about Rwf548,000), the first runner-up $340 (Rwf274,000), and the second runner-up $160 (Rwf129,000).

The best 20 riders will also pocket prize money each day, with $12,600 (Rwf10 million) being reserved for the seven stages, ensuring $680 for the first, $340 for the second and $160 for the third, while the last four will earn $15.

In addition, over $7,350 (Rwf6 million) will be offered to the top 20 riders each day after the general classification. The other three jerseys – the white jersey for best young rider, green jersey for point’s classification leader, and King of the Mountains are each worth $300 a day.

At the end of the race, the "Super Combatif” prize is also awarded to the rider deemed most aggressive in the whole race.

The team classification has prize money down to three places, with $600 (Rwf484,000) for the best, $300 (Rwf240,000) for the first runners-up and $100 (Rwf80,000) for third place finish.

The winner of the each stage will be given a specific jersey by Skol, the best climber will wear the Cogebanque jersey, while the best young rider (born on or after January 1, 1994) will wear Soras jersey.

The best African rider will wear the RwandAir jersey with the best Rwandan wearing the RDB jersey, while the overall winner will be wear the highly coveted yellow jersey, courtesy of the Ministry of Sports and Culture.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw