WITH Eritrean riders pulling out of this year’s Tour of Rwanda, Rwanda’s ace rider should surely fancy his chances of winning the race that has eluded him since 2008. Since the race’s inclusion on the UCI calendar in 2009, Niyonshuti has struggled to match the likes of Eritrea and South Africa.
WITH Eritrean riders pulling out of this year’s Tour of Rwanda, Rwanda’s ace rider should surely fancy his chances of winning the race that has eluded him since 2008.
Since the race’s inclusion on the UCI calendar in 2009, Niyonshuti has struggled to match the likes of Eritrea and South Africa.
The MTN Qhubeka rider has won over 30 races this season, which partly explains his qualification for next year’s Olympics Games in London.
In 2009 and 2010, Niyonshuti managed to finish inside the top five but with the Eritreans certain to miss and Morocco’s Adil Jeroul (2009 winner) struggling for form, it’s a great opportunity for the 24-year-old to end his three-year wait.
This year’s race will cover 744.9km spread over seven stages.
Rwanda has fielded two teams; Karismbi and Akagera. The other teams in contention include Morocco, Algeria, Ethiopia, Team Type 1 of USA, Reine Blanche from France, Belgium’s Flanders Avia, Kenya, Tanzania and MTN Qhubeka of South Africa.
Ends