Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome and his Israel Premier Tech team arrived in the country on Thursday morning ahead of the much-anticipated Tour du Rwanda 2023 slated for February 19-26.

The Briton landed in Kigali at around 3am with a large group including four riders. He will be making his debut at Tour du Rwanda in the Israel cycling team’s colors.

"This is my first time in Rwanda. I am here to give my best [to the team] and I am looking forward to the race," he said

"I am happy to be in Rwanda. I grew up near here but I haven’t been to Rwanda before. I don’t know what to expect but let’s see what happens in the next few days,” he added.

Froome, 37 is one of the world’s most prolific athletes in cycling. He won seven world cycling championships including four the Tour de France, twice at the Vuelta, the Giro d’Italia and the Tour of Spain.

Before the race, he will on Friday attend the inauguration ceremony of the Field of Dreams cycling centre, Rwanda’s first-ever BMX-styled pump track, that Israel Premier Tech built for the youth in Bugesera District, Eastern Province.

The team has been mobilizing funds in excess of Euro 300,000 (Approx Rwf320 million) to build the ultra-modern cycling academy and the rider played a big part in the cause.

Prior to the launch, Froome said, "the team has a very exciting project here in the Field of Dreams. I am excited to be here this week to see it myself and see how cycling is growing in Rwanda.”