Rider Renus Byiza Uhiriwe has said that he is beyond excited after a stellar performance that saw him win gold for Team Rwanda at the just-concluded 2023 African Road Cycling championship held in Ghana.

Uhiriwe bagged gold after coming out on top in the senior men and U23 Road Race that took place Monday, February 13.

"This is another milestone in my life. It’s a welcome surprise. It is always an honor to win a medal at any level, but it is a special moment. I am looking forward to building on the medals I win so that I can improve my game. I am delighted to have managed to win,” he said.

"I did incredibly well this year but this accolade didn’t come just because of me as an individual – my teammates contributed a lot for it to happen. Winning it is a sign that nothing is impossible when you put your heart to it, and that feels like the beginning for me," he added.

Uhiriwe became the second Rwandan rider to win gold after Diane Ingabire clinched one in the women's under-23 race held on Sunday.

In that category, Xaverine Nirere won the Silver medal after finishing second.

Team Rwanda, which had 12 representatives at the continental championship, returned home with eight medals including two gold medals, three silvers by Moïse Mugisha, Diane Ingabire and Valentine Nzayisenga.

The team also won Silver medal in men's and women's mixed event while they also won two more Bronze medals during the men and women’s time trial.

Meanwhile Eritrean Henok Mulubrhan became the overall winner of the race in senior men's category.