Sept 22-30

The 2018 UCI Road World Championships

Rwanda Cycling Federation (Ferwacy) has announced Team Rwanda’s roster that will represent the country at the forthcoming 2018 UCI Road World Championships.

This year’s edition of the annual event is scheduled for September 22-30 in Innsbruck, Austria. It will be the 91st UCI Road World Championships, and the third to be held in Austria.

Team Rwanda, yet to win a medal at the prestigious event, will be fielding an all-U23 seven riders this year, including five riders in the Under-23 Men's road race and two in the Individual Time Trial (ITT) category. The pack is led by reigning Tour du Rwanda champion Samuel Mugisha and the 2017 winner Joseph Areruya – who is also La Tropicale Amissa Bongo title holder.

Also joining the famous Europe-based duo is Didier Munyaneza, the national champion.

The line-up is completed by Jean Paul Rene Ukiniwabo and Samuel Hakiruwizeye.

In addition, two riders will compete in the men’s junior category including; Jean Eric Habimana and Renus Byiza Uhiriwe.

"There will be a brief camp for ten days starting September 10. Only Hakiruwizeye is in Rwanda. He will train at the centre (Africa Rising Cycling Centre) along with the juniors,” said Sterling Magnell, the national team head coach in an interview with Times Sport on Wednesday.

"Joseph and Mugisha have races with their respective teams while Rene and Didier are in France at the moment involved in some regional races. They will link up with their teammates in Innsbruck,” he added.

Following the conclusion of this year’s Tour de l’Avenir in which Team Rwanda made a historic debut, the duo of Ukiniwabo and Munyaneza stayed in France where they are reportedly training with amateur club Pays Olonne Cycliste Côte de Lumière (POCCL), which boasts two Rwandan cyclists Valens Ndayisenga and Jean Claude Uwizeye.

The first world championships took place in 1921, though the only event that was contested then was the Men's Road Race for Amateurs. The first professional world championship took place in July 1927 at the Nürburgring in Germany where Italian Alfredo Binda won the professional men's race and Belgian Jean Aerts won the men's amateur race.

The winner in each category is entitled to wear the rainbow jersey in races of that category, either in mass start or time trial, until the next championships.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw