Ndacyayisenga set for training camp in S.A

Another one of Rwanda’s bravest riders Valens Ndacyayisenga is set to travel to South Africa for a three-month training camp at the Africa Continental Centre Training Camp.

Saturday, January 05, 2013
Adrien Niyonshuti

Another one of Rwanda’s bravest riders Valens Ndacyayisenga is set to travel to South Africa for a three-month training camp at the Africa Continental Centre Training Camp.According to Rwanda Cycling Federation Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Murenzi, the youngster is expected to leave the country on January 25, after the completion of the 2013 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo race scheduled for January 14-20 in Gabon. Ndacyayisenga, 19, started to compete in the local tournament last year when he finished third in 2012 Tour de Kigali behind winner Adrien Niyonshuti, and also went on to finish in 4th position in the season-ending Anti-Corruption Tour, which was won by the experienced Nathan Byukusenge. "He started riding, though not competitively at a young age which is good and we hope he will be a good asset for the country. Whether he secures a professional contract after the trainings will depend on his progress, but we wish him all the best,” Murenzi said.He added, "While in South Africa, he will compete in many competitions, so it is up to him to prove what he is capable of as did Adrien Niyonshuti and Janvier Hadi, who went through the same before signing professional contracts.” Ndacyayisenga will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Niyonshuti and Hadi, the only two Rwanda professional riders, who signed for South African UCI Continental team MTN Qhubeka and Team UCI Continental Center South Africa respectively. 25-year-old Niyonshuti, after riding for the Rwanda national cycling team, secured a professional contract with Team MTN Energade, beginning in the 2009 professional season.Hadi, the 21-year-old Team Rwanda rider signed a one-year contract to ride for Team UCI Continental Center South Africa, which starts on January 15.Niyonshuti was the first Rwandan cyclist in 2008 to attend the Africa Continental Centre Training Camp in South Africa, where he was offered a professional contract by the directeur sportif of UCI Continental Team MTN Energade Douglas Ryder.