Contrary to earlier reports that Team Rwanda cyclist Bonaventure Uwizeyimana had joined Canada’s Lowestrates.Ca cycling team for an unspecified period, Times Sport has learnt that the 24-year-old will feature for the club as a guest rider for just two races.
Contrary to earlier reports that Team Rwanda cyclist Bonaventure Uwizeyimana had joined Canada’s Lowestrates.Ca cycling team for an unspecified period, Times Sport has learnt that the 24-year-old will feature for the club as a guest rider for just two races.
On Sunday, the club released a statement on their website announcing that the former Dimension Data for Qhubeka rider has joined them but without disclosing his contract details.
Following our story, which was published on Monday, Team Rwanda official Kimberly Coats responded by disclosing that the Rubavu-born cyclist actually joined the Canada-based team as a guest rider.
The reigning national champion will be on the starting line when team LowestRates.ca starts the international Grand Prix de Saguenay and the Tour de Beauce, a two Union Cycliste International (UCI) sanctioned race which will be held in June.
Kimberly revealed that, "Bona will only be doing two races with Lowest Rates. He’s there as a "guest” rider. He’s racing the Tour de Beauce and the Grand Prix Saguenay. He does not have a contract with Lowest Rates.”
Kimberly and her partner Jock Boyer, the former US professional cyclist and Team Rwanda program director, recommended Uwizeyimana to the Canadian team.
The 2017 Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay is scheduled to start on June 8 and will run until June 11 while the Tour de Beauce will start from June 14 until June 18.
Lyne Bessette, the team’s new Director Sportif was also excited to have the opportunity to work with the 2016 Rwandan National champion.
Lowestrates.ca were among the teams that debuted at last year’s Tour du Rwanda and had a very strong maiden campaign with their own Timothy Rugg winning the 3.3km prologue before clinching the third stage also known as the ‘Kivu-Belt.’
Uwizeyimana was released towards the end of last year by Dimension Data for Qhubeka along with his compatriot and 2016 Tour du Rwanda winner, Valens Ndayisenga. They were replaced by the duo of two rising stars Joseph Areruya and Samuel Mugisha.
Uwizeyimana becomes the second Rwandan cyclist to ride for a Canadian team after Janvier Hadi (now retired), who featured for Garneau-Quebeco during the Tour of Alberta in 2014.
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