Club Benediction roster
1. Jean Bosco Nsengimana 2. Janvier Hadi 3. Bonaventure Uwizeyimana 4. Patrick Byukusenge 5. Eric Manizabayo
With one week to the start of the 10th Tour du Rwanda, Benediction cycling club are aiming to register new history as the first local cycling club to win the prestigious event, coach Felix Sempoma has said.
This year’s Tour du Rwanda will start on Sunday 4 in Rwamagana, and will run for eight days across the country before concluding on August 12 in Kigali.
The Rubavu-based non-professional club will be making its third appearance together with rivals Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana. The two sides will be joined by Team Rwanda as the third home side in the eight-stage UCI Africa Tour race.
Unlike Team Rwanda that has an all Under-23 and less experienced roster, Sempoma’s line up is comprised of some of the country’s renowned cyclists with vast experience and major victories on domestic and international scene.
In an exclusive interview with Sunday Sport yesterday, Sempoma revealed that his decision to select such a strong team was inspired by mainly three reasons, all with the same goal – to win Tour du Rwanda this year.
"I selected this team for three reasons; the first being that we want to win this year’s edition and become the first local club to do it. Secondly, I want to become the first Rwandan coach to inspire a local club to Tour du Rwanda victory.” Sempoma said.
"And thirdly, we want to convince, impress, raise more awareness about the club and attract partners to support Club Benediction so we can (God willing) upgrade to a UCI Continental Team and be eligible to compete in next year’s Tour du Rwanda,” he further added.
Benediction’s roster is comprised of the 2015 Tour du Rwanda winner Jean Bosco Nsengimana, the 2015 All Africa Games road race gold medalist Janvier Hadi, reigning Tour du Cameroun champion Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, the 2017 Rwanda Cycling Cup winner Patrick Byukusenge as well as Eric Manizabayo.
Also regarded as the team’s dark horse, Manizabayo is last year’s national champion in the Under-U23 category.
"Tour du Rwanda is a very gruesome race that needs strong climbers to win, with the likes of Nsengimana, Byukusenge and Hadi, I believe we stand a very big chance to win it this year,” Sempoma tipped his riders.
This year’s Tour du Rwanda will cover a total distance of 948.6 kilometers and an elevation of 19.455 meters with a total 31 climbs.
The opening stage in Rwamagana has only one climb, stage two (Kigali – Huye) has four climbs, stage three (Huye – Musanze) also has four climbs while stage four (Musanze – Karongi) comprises of a total of three climbs.
The fifth stage (Karongi – Rubavu) has three climbs, same as stage six (Rubavu – Kinigi) while the penultimate stage seven (Musanze – Kigali) has the second highest number (6) of climbs.
The final stage (stage 8) across Kigali possesses the most climbs – totaling to seven.
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