BENEDICTION CLUB rider Joseph Areruya is eyeing more success after being crowned the winner of the Patriotism Cycling Race on Saturday in Kigali.

Areruya who rides for Benediction Club, won the Patriotism Cycling Race which is the first race of Rwanda Cycling Cup calendar over the weekend after clocking three 2 hours 58 minutes and 51 seconds in a distance of 105km.

"I’m very delighted to have won this title, I worked very hard last year and I feel I deserve the title. I hope this year comes with more titles for me, I feel stronger than ever and believe I will defend my title this year,” Areruya told Times Sport.

The 25-year-old was participating in his first competitive race since the 2021 Tour du Rwanda which he didn’t finish after an injury.

He is the first cyclist from Rwanda to ride in the Paris–Roubaix road race, when he took part in the 2019 edition. Areruya won the Circuit de Constantine, two times, National Road Championships, and La Tropicale Amissa Bongo.

The national cycling federation, Ferwacy is planning more races in preparation for next year’s Tour du Rwanda which is slated for February, 20-27 2022.

The race will attract UCI World Tour Teams and UCI professional continental teams, as well as UCI continental and national teams.

No Rwandan rider has won a stage in the last two editions of the Tour du Rwanda.