Rubavu Benediction Club and Team Rwanda rider Bonaventure Uwizeyimana left for South Africa on Thursday where he is set to start racing for the Team UCI Continental Centre.

The UCI Continental Centre recruits young riders from across Africa, who exhibit potential to be international riders but are handicapped by lack of exposure at the international level. Uwinzeyimana follows compatriot Janvier Hadi, who joined the centre in January.

According to an official in the local cycling federation, UCI Continental Centre asked Rwanda, through Team Rwanda’s American coach Jonathan Boyer, for one more rider to join the centre, and Uwizeyimana was picked as the best choice.

Uwizeyimana, 20, is expected to make his debut in the Mzanzi Tour, which will be held from April 17-21.

Uwizeyimana won the 2013 Trust Industries LTD-sponsored Circuit de l’Est cycling race last month.

The Team Rwanda rider dominated a strong field of top contenders that included Nathan Byukusenge, Hassan Rukundo and Abraham Ruhumuriza, among others. A key member of Team Rwanda, Uwizeyimana clocked 3h25’39’ to win the 142km one-day competition. He, along with Jean Bosco Nsengiyumva, finished among the top ten for Team Rwanda in the Red Sea Classic cycling race held in Eritrea early this year.