Teams have started to jet in ahead of the much-anticipated Tour du Rwanda 2023 slated for February 19-26.
A total of 20 teams, including Rwandan representatives Team Rwanda and May Stars, confirmed their participation at the race which is in its 15th edition. Estonian Cycling Team, Tartu 2024, became the first team to arrive in Rwanda last week and is currently camping at Africa Rising Cycling Centre based in Musanze District, Northern Province.
ALSO READ: May Stars confirm Tour du Rwanda 2023 participation
Other teams that arrived on Wednesday include Team Total Direct Energies (France), Team Bike Aid (Germany), Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team (Belgium), Bolton Equities Black Spoke (New Zealand) and Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team of Malaysia.
Israel, Great Britain, China, South Africa, Eritrea and EF Education NIPPO DT (United States) will jet in on Thursday while Euskaltel Euskadi (Spain) and Equipe National du Maroc will arrive on Friday.
This year’s race will be contested in eight stages, covering a total distance of 1,129 kilometers, unlike last year's 937km.
Huye-Musanze and Rusizi-Rubavu are Tour du Rwanda's longest stages with distances of 199,5km and 195,5km, respectively while the Canal Olympia-Canal Olympia stage is the shortest with 75,3km.
The winner of Tour du Rwanda 2023 will dethrone reigning champion Natnael Tesfasion of Eritrea who has won the race twice, in 2020 and 2022.
Every year, a total of $51,000 (about Rwf51 million) is given out to winners in stage and general classifications. The overall Yellow Jersey winner takes home $4,000, while a stage winner receives $1,400.