DESPITE a shaky performance in Sunday’s 168km road race, Team Rwanda coach   Jonathan Boyer is optimistic the cyclists will come good in next month’s African Continental Road Cycling Championship in Rwanda.

Nathan Byukusenge and four-time Tour of Rwanda champion Abraham Ruhumuriza finished 33rd and 51st while Adrien Niyonshuti, Gasore Hategeka and Nicodem Habiyambere all dropped out of the grueling race.

The race was won by Australia’s Allan Davis used three hours, 49minutes and 48 seconds to win the race.
"It was a tough test for the boys. It was very humid out there but overall, I think it was a good test for them. I have no doubt that they will step it up in the African cycling championship,” the American coach said.

Africa had two riders in the top 20- Namibia’s Andrew Fenn finished 13th while Paul Esposti of South Africa finished 18th.

Out 132 riders who competed, only 52 riders finished the race. Next month, Rwanda will stage the high profile African event after beating off stiff competition from Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Mauritius.

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