2013 our best year so far, says Rwanda cycling boss

RWANDA cycling Federation (Ferwacy) says 2013 was a successful year for Team Rwanda, with the highlight being youngster Hadi Janvier who won a bronze medal at the African Championships in Egypt.And the federation is looking forward to even better performances in the New Year.Cycling was among the top four best performing local sporting federations alongside volleyball, National Paralympics Committee (NPC) and basketball last year.Team Rwanda participated in several competitions on the continent registering some impressive, sometimes unprecedented, performances, according to Ferwacy chairperson Aimable Bayingana.“2013 was remarkable for Rwandan cycling, I would say; it was our best year so far but we are not where we want to be yet. In 2014 we hope to work even harder and make Rwandan cycling much stronger,” Bayingana told Times Sport on Thursday.Rwandan riders competed in over 15 international tournaments in 2013, including; Amissa Bongo of Gabon, Tour of Eritrea, Tour of DR Congo, Tour of Asmara, Tour of Fenkeil Northern Red Sea, Mzanzi Tour, Tour of Rwanda 2013, the Francophone Games in Nice, France.During the Tour of Rwanda, Jean Bosco Nsengiyunva, who was riding for Team Rwanda Karisimbi and Adrien Niyonshuti, riding for South Africa-based MTN-Qhubeka were the only Rwandans who came inside the top ten after finishing sixth and ninth, respectively.Nineteen-year old Valens Ndayisenga (Team Rwanda Akagera) became one of the youngest stage winners in Tour of Rwanda history when he took stage two and went on to finish 11th overall, winning himself the most promising rider award.And just last month Rwandan riders Janvier Hadi and Valens Ndayisenga were shortlisted among 24 cyclists nominated for the second edition of the 2013 Africa Cyclist of the Year Award.South Africa’s Louis Meintjes, who finished in second in the 2013 Tour of Rwanda, would later beat the two Rwandans and 21 other African riders to the award.Another milestone for Rwandan cycling in 2013 was the launch of the Adrien Niyonshuti cycling academy (ANCA) on May 26 before it started operations on July 27 – in Rwamagana District, in the Eastern Province – with 12 young riders aged between 14 and 18 years.And as 2014 begins, Team Rwanda’s preparations for the UCI Africa Tour season opening race, the Amissa Bongo Tour, are already in high gear. The week-long Tour is scheduled for January 13-19 in Gabon.The six-member team includes; Hadi Janvier, Valens Ndayisenga, Abraham Ruhumuriza, Jean Bosco Nsengiyumva, Gasore Hategeka and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana.

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2013 our best year so far, says Rwanda cycling boss