Team Java Inovotec Rider, Joseph Areruya, is only taking positives from the current preparations for the highly-anticipated Tour du Rwanda 2024 scheduled from February 15-22.

Java Inovotec is among three Rwandan teams that will represent Rwanda at the 17th Edition of the cycling race alongside Team Rwanda and May Stars. Overall, the competition will attract a total of 20 teams from across the globe.

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It will be the team’s debut appearance in Tour du Rwanda and Areruya said he and his teammates can defy the odds and impress at the competition.

"We are working hard to raise our game and I believe if we can raise our level of performance. If I consider the way we have been riding recently in training, I would not be wrong to say that we have a good chance of doing better at the Tour du Rwanda," the Tour du Rwanda 2017 winner said.

"Everyone at the club is excited that we are making our debut in Tour du Rwanda but many of the riders are not competing for the first time. We want to challenge for the top places so that we can prove that we can still do better where we can still compete at the highest level.”

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Java Inovotec have in their roster two former Tour Rwanda winners in Areruya (2017) and new signing Jean Bosco Nsengimana who won it in 2015.

The two experienced riders will be looking to lift the team to the top and fight for glory in February alongside their young but rising teammates like Hashim Tuyizere, Patrick Byukusenge, Suayibu Kagibwami, Emmanuel Iradukunda, Etienne Tuyizere, and Barnabé Gahemba.

Tour du Rwanda is an annual Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) competition ranked 2.1 in the UCI Africa Tour series.

The cycling race could undoubtedly become a foreign riders' race as no Rwandan has won the race since it was sanctioned to 2.1 category on UCI Africa Tour in 2019. Moise Mugisha is the only Rwandan rider to have ever won a stage during the past five editions.