All set for start of Tour du Rwanda 2013

The 16th edition of the Tour du Rwanda cycling race, the fifth since it became a UCI Africa Tour in 2009, gets underway on Sunday and the hosts will be represented by three teams, each made up of five riders.In the build-up to the top and most popular cycling competitions in the region and one of the biggest in Africa, Saturday Sport’s reporter Peter Kamasa profiles the 15 riders who will ride for Rwandan sides;Team Kalisimbi, Team Akagera and Team Muhabura.Abraham RuhumurizaDate and of birth: July 28, 1977 in Gisagara, Southern RwandaHeight: 1,71mWeight: 60kgTeam (for Tour du Rwanda 2013): Team KalisimbiClub: Cine Elmay*Competitions performance11th - Tour of Cameroon 2011 and 1st in Mountain Jersey9th - African Continental Championships 2010 (9th in Team Time Trial)35th- Commonwealth Games /India in 2010 (Road Race)1st - Kwita Izina race 20107th - Tour of Cameroon 2010 (Won two stages)17th - Tour of Amissa Bongo, Gabon, 2010 (4th Best African)1st - Tour of City of Kigali 20095th - Tour of Rwanda 2009In 1999, Ruhumuriza began racing on a single speed bike and has since developed into an experienced rider. He was introduced to racing by a friend to his family and bought his first 10 speed bike with the help of a friend.Ruhumuriza remarried in 2008 after the death of his first wife. He says through cycling he has managed to fend for his family.“My family is everything to me and I am thankful to cycling which has given me the opportunity to own a home and a small business,” he noted.**He is Rwanda’s most experienced active rider.Nathan ByukusengeDate of birth: August, 8, 1980 in Kamonyi, Southern RwandaHeight: 1, 67 mWeight: 58kgTeam: Team KalisimbiClub: Benediction Club*Competitions performance6th- Team Time Trial African Continental Championship2nd – Rwanda National Championships 20123rd – Rwanda National Championship 20134th - Tour du Rwanda 20119th - Tour du Cameroon 201029th - Tropicale Amissa Bongo 201219th - Tour du Eritrea 2013**He is one of the riders who have been with the team for a long time now.Jean Bosco NsengiyumvaDate of birth: November 4, 1992 in Nyabihu, Western RwandaHeight: 1,70mWeight: 62kgTeam: KalisimbiClub: Benediction ClubJean Bosco Nsengiyumva is one of the newest faces on the team. His first moment in the limelight came in the 2012 Kwita Izina Tour and Tour du Rwanda 2012. He also competed in Tropicale Amissa Bongo 2013,Tour d’Eritrea 2013 and Jeux de la Francophonie 2013.He was 5th in Anti-Corruption Race, Kigali in 2012; and 10th in General Classification in Fenkel Northern Redsea in Tour de EritreaBonaventure UwizeyimanaDate of birth: January 4, 1993Team: KalisimbiClub: Benediction ClubHe has been a member of Team Rwanda for two years now and is one of the key riders for his club and country.Janvier HadiDate of birth: January 15, 1991Team: KalisimbiClub: Word Cycling CentreHe’s one of the most promising stars in the national team and has nailed down a regular place in Team Rwanda since 2011. Hassan RukundoDate of birth: January 1, 1990 in Nyamagabe, Southern Rwanda.Height: 1,67mWeight: 60kgTeam: AkageraClub: Cine Elmay ClubRukundo started his cycling career in 2010, took part in the 2012 Kwita Izina Tour, and made his Tour du Rwanda debut in 2012. He was part of Team Rwanda that competed in Tour du Gabon, Tour du Eritrea, and Tour du DR Congo.Valens NdayisengaDate of birth: January 1, 994 in Rwamagana, Eastern Rwanda.Height: 1,75mWeight: 62kgTeam: AkageraClub: Les Amis Sportiff de RwamaganaHe started in racing in 2011, and came in third position in the 2013Tour of the City of Kigali. Ndayisenga dominated the one-day ‘Individual Time Trial’ cycling race 2013.Emile BintunimanaDate of birth: August 15, 1991 in Runda, Kamonyi, Southern RwandaHeight: 1,60mWeight: 66kgTeam: AkageraClub: Benediction ClubHe started his career in 2011, participated in last year’s Tour du Rwanda and Tour du DRC, and featured in Jeux Francophonie 2013 as well as Tour du Morocco. He finished 2nd in General Classification of Tour de Congo. Bintunimana is another promising Team Rwanda rider.Joseph BiziyaremyeDate of birth: January 1, 1988 in Kamonyi, Southern RwandaHeight: 1,79mWeight: 68kgTeam: AkageraClub: Cine Elmay ClubHe is one of the few Rwandan rides who have won a stage in Tour du Rwanda since 2009. He won Kwita Izina Tour two years ago as well as one stage in the 2013 Tour du Congo. He is married to Francine Uwamahoro.Patrick ByukusengeDate of birth: June 1, 1991 Nyabihu, Western RwandaHeight: 1,71mWeight: 62kgTeam: MuhaburaClub: Benediction ClubHe started racing in 2012 and tomorrow he will make his debut in Tour du Rwanda. He is a younger brother Nathan Byukusenge.Jeremy KaregeyaDate of birth: January 1, 1993 in Kamonyi, Southern RwandaHeight: 1,71’Height: 61kgTeam: MuraburaClub: Cine Elmay ClubKaregeya is another one to watch out for the future. He started racing in 2012 and went on to make his international debut for Team Rwanda in this year’s Tropicale Amissa Bongo Tour du Gabon and Tour du Eritrea in 2013Aime MupenziDate of birth: June 15, 1994 in DRCHeight: 1,63’Weight: 59kgTeam: MuraburaClub: Benediction ClubThis younger brother of Janvier Hadi started his riding career this year, which makes him the newest face on Team Rwanda. He has shown enormous potential to compete at the highest level. He will have been grateful to coach Jonathan Boyer for the opportunity to compete against some of the continent’s crème de la crème.Theoneste KarasiraDate of birth: November 12, 1990 in Nyabihu, Western RwandaHeight: 1,67mWeight: 62kgTeam: MuraburaClub: Benediction ClubHe started racing with Benediction Club at the start of 2013 and he has proved to be a potential future star. This will be Karasira’s international debut.Innocent ‘Rocky’ UwamunguDate of birth: July 6, 1988Team: MuhaburaClub: Benediction Club Uwamumgu’s introduction to professional racing was a result of an unplanned encounter on the road with Team Rwanda members in Musanze District, the team’s training base in 2007. He was riding a single speed just cranking away when Boyer and his team bumped into him on the road.Shortly after he was given a bike, trained for six weeks and was then sent to the UCI Training Centre in South Africa to learn how to race a sports bike. Uwamungu is already an international racing Team Rwanda member, having competed in the 2011 Tour of Gabon and Tour of Cameroon.He made his Tour of Rwanda debut back in 2010. Rocky, as he’s known among his peers and the coaching staff, is married with two children.The name Rocky was given to him by Team Rwanda coach when he showed up for trials wearing a Rock Shox jersey.peter.kamasa@newtimes.co.rw