Xaverine Nirere, winner of the race in 2020, and Queen Mwamikazi are competing in this year’s Rwandan Epic Mountain Bike Race that got underway in Kigali on Thursday.

The four-day race will run through March 13.

Rwanda Bookmobile is proud to sponsor the two talented women who face international competition in the challenging race, which comprises four stages in different parts of the country.

According to the race organizers: "The Rwandan Epic team has a shared passion for Rwanda, mountain biking and seeing people and communities lifted up through cycling.”

Owing to the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rwandan Epic did not take place last year, but organisers say they are optimistic about the race growing bigger and more competitive in the coming years.

The participation of the two young women in the gruelling mountain bike race was enabled by Rwanda Bookmobile.

Xaverine Nirere (L) and Queen Mwamikazi at the starting point of the Rwandan Epic mountain bike race on Thursday.

Xaverine Nirere and Queen Mwamikazi take a group photo with the team behind Rwanda Bookmobile.