A six man national cycling team today set off in full zeal to pedal the Tropical Amissa Bongo international tour which starts next Tuesday in Gabon.

The team’s head coach, Jonathan Boyer, summoned top cyclists to target top placing in the international tour.

"The team is doing very well. We have added two new young riders. I urge the team to be competitive. It’s going to be a hard competition,” said Boyer.

Team Rwanda will be making its second appearance in the six day event slated to last from 19-25 January.

Although the Libreville tour is match shorter, 550Km, than the Rwandan tour, 1069, the race will be tightened by European pros who will also take part.

"We expect especially tough races with the European teams.” Boyer said five European teams will compete there.
"I think Ruhumuriza and Niyonshuti should perform very well to seek top placing.”

Unlike Abraham Ruhumuriza who will be making his second attempt, South Africa’s MTN Energade rider Adrein Niyonshuti is set to debut race in Libreville.

Niyonshuti earlier had a Mountain Bike build up last week will be racing for his South African club. 

Listed for Libreville are new entrants Emmanuel Rudahunga, Innocent Nshyimiyimana, top cyclists Abraham Ruhumuriza, Jean de Dieu Rafiki, Nicodem Nsengiyumva and Nathan Byukusenge.

Boyer lauded the potentials of the new duo and said that they did well in the pre-entry trials.

"They did very well in testing, they are young good cyclists.”

The duo brings the number of national team cyclists to a total of eight.

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