Today Stage 1 (Dakar – Thies) 143km

Team Rwanda, the National Cycling Team will start their quest for medals at the 17th Tour du Senegal today in the country’s capital – Dakar.

The annual race, part of the UCI Africa Tour, paces off this morning, with cyclists competing in the 143km stage one from Dakar to Thies. Rwanda is making her first appearance in the competition since 2008.

The Rwandan contingent which is comprised of head coach Felix Sempoma, mechanic Eric Maniriho, physiotherapist Obed Ruvogera and six riders arrived in Senegal on Thursday and was received by the Rwandan High Commissioner Dr. Mathias Harebamungu.

Three of the six riders are fresh from the just concluded XXI Commonwealth Games in Australia. They are; Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Jean Paul Rene Ukiniwabo and Didier Munyaneza.

The trio was joined by former national team captain Janvier Hadi, Uwiduhaye and Rwanda Cycling Cup champion Patrick Byukusenge.

The 2018 edition of the Tour du Senegal begins today and will run through to April 29 across the coastal West African nation. Hadi, 27, is resurfacing on international scene for the first time in two years, following his brief one-year retirement.

The 2018 Tour du Senegal has attracted a record 19 teams, twelve national teams and seven Continental Tour teams. Algeria’s Islam Mansouri won the race last year.

The eight-day race is made up of eight stages across different parts of Senegal. Stage 2 that takes place on Monday is the longest and most grueling, with a distance that covers 181 kilometres.

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