Cycling Cup continues to unveil young talents

Team Rwanda Cycling head coach Jonathan ‘Jock’ Boyer has hailed the inaugural Rwanda Cycling Cup as a platform to identify new talent across the country. The 10-event competition commenced in April with the Kivu race from Muhanga to Rubavu (138km) before the ‘Race to Remember’ (101.5km) in May organized in commemoration of the people who lost their lives during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The national cycling championships – individual time trial (38km) and road race (120km) last month was the third event of the Rwanda Cycling Cup and the ‘Race for Culture’ (106km) on Saturday was the fourth event with six more coming up. “The Rwanda Cycling Cup is a huge step. Most countries do not have anything like this. The level of racing and the level of organization here is impressive so I was very, very happy. I saw some kids that I had never really seen race before so this is really, really good. It shows the riders are very serious in training and their clubs are good,” said Boyer. Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY) president Aimable Bayingana echoed Boyer’s observations and said, “The Rwanda Cycling Cup has helped us to discover new talent. We have new young riders that are continuing to improve and showing us the experience they are gaining.” Joseph Aleluya, who is only 19 years old, won the Kivu race beating an elite field of riders to emerge winner. He finished second at the national championships in the general classification of the road race and was the best in the U-23 category. His teammate from Amis Sportifs Jean Claude Uwizeye was fourth in the general classification and second in the U-23 category. Benediction’s Hakuzimana, Jeremie Karegeya (Cine Elmay), Ephrem Tuyishimire (Amis Sportifs) and Aime Mupenzi (Benediction) have continued to showcase their ability to compete against experienced riders. Meanwhile, some of the young riders that have been identified as exceptional during the Rwanda Cycling Cup include 15-year -old Eric Manizabayo (Benediction), 16-year-old Janvier Rugamba (Amis Sportifs), 17-year-old Rene Ukiniwabo (Amis Sportifs), 19-year-old Ali Dukuzumuremyi (Cycling Club for All - Huye), 19-year old Eugene Gashiramanga (Amis Sportifs) and 20-year-old Jean Claude Mfutimukiza (Cycling Club for All - Huye). Amis Sportifs head coach John Rugamba said, “The Rwanda Cycling Cup is an opportunity to introduce young riders to competitive cycling. They are the future of Rwandan cycling.” The next event of the Rwanda Cycling Cup is the ‘Northern Circuit’ from Rubavu to Musanze, a total distance of 49.6km on August 1.

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Cycling Cup continues to unveil young talents