Sept 22-30

The 2018 UCI World Road Championships – Innsbruck, Austria

TEAM Rwanda head coach Sterling Magnell is confident that his team can write history at the 91st edition of the UCI Road World Championships, which gets underway today in Austria.

The world’s biggest cycling event will run through September 30 in Austrian city of Innsbruck.

Magnell made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Saturday Sport on Thursday.

Three of the seven members of Team Rwanda to race in the world championships left the country for Austria on Friday and are expected to link up, today, with four Europe-based teammates namely; Didier Munyaneza, Jean Paul Rene Ukiniwabo, Samuel Mugisha and Joseph Areruya.

The trio, that had been training at Musanze-based Africa Rising Cycling Center (ARCC), include Samuel Hakiruwizeye and two juniors; Jean Eric Habimana, and Renus Byiza Uhiriwe.

"The training camp for Samuel and the juniors was quite smooth. Because of the brief period of training and short distance for the juniors in the competition, our training was focused more on the racing skills and tactics. As for Samuel, it’s been all about fine-tuning and some motor pacing for speed,” said Magnell

Since September 10, Hakiruwizeye, who will race in the men’s U23 category along with the youngsters who will represent the country in the men’s junior category, have been in a training camp under the watchful eye of Magnell.

"The three riders rested, are physically fit and mentally prepared for Innsbruck championships,” the American tactician insisted.

"Rene and Didier have been sharpening their experience and skills doing some regional races in the north of France where they have been staying since last month. Joseph and Samuel trained with their teams,” he further explained.

The seven Team Rwanda riders will compete in the men’s U23 category (five riders) and juniors’ category (two riders) and, according to Magenell, the team is in Austria to make a difference this year compared to their previous outings.

"We are arriving in the host country three days prior to our first race, so my hope is that we can get settled and have some routines, preview the parcours and prepare ourselves mentally for the race. We are in a good position to make a difference and I have hope and confidence in my roster this year than in any other previous edition,” he stressed.

This will be Team Rwanda’s fourth appearance at the prestigious event since their debut in 2015. 

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