CYCLING

THE national cycling team ‘Team Rwanda’ has switched its focus to the second edition of the Kwita Izina cycling challenge tour after failing to raise the needed funds to compete in the tour of Eritrea that will start on Saturday.

Team Rwanda was supposed to leave tomorrow but Coach Jonathan Boyer told Times Sport yesterday that inadequate funds had forced the team to pull out.

"The funds were not enough so we will not take part in the event. The team will continue its usual training camp in Musanze to prepare for the Kwita Izina cycling tour,” Boyer said.

Cyclists from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and Tanzania will compete against riders from local clubs like Rubavu, Kayonza, Huye, Rapide, Rwamagana, Cine Elmay and Unatave.

On Day One, cyclists will ride from Kigali to Rubavu with a stop over in Musanze. On day two, the contingent will head back to Kigali.

Abraham Ruhumuriza won last year’s event to pocket Rwf0.5m courtesy of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the major sponsors for this year’s edition as well.

This year, Rwanda is also hosting the African Continental Road Cycling Championship after beating off stiff competition from Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Mauritius.

The championship will be held in November.

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