Tour du Rwanda: Ruhumuriza bids to sign off on a high

Abraham Ruhumuriza is the testimony of just how far one should really go in Rwandan cycling, and now the veteran cyclist, racing his last Tour du Rwanda, is keen to sign off on a high just as he started 16 years ago. The news first appeared on the @TRwandaCycling twitter handle on Saturday, November 12, before this year’s race began with the prologue at Amahoro National Stadium, the next day. And in an interview with Times Sport, the 37-year old confirmed the news of his imminent retirement from the sport he has served for close to 20 years, revealing that, “this is my last Tour du Rwanda.” Ruhumuriza, who won Tour du Rwanda a record five times between 2002 and 2007, before the race was added on the UCI Africa Tour, category 2.2 road race in 2009, admitted that, “All good things (must) come to an end, cycling is not my whole life.” However, asked if this also means the end of his cycling career altogether, the Huye-born rider noted, “I still have time to think about my future as far as other races are concerned. But for Tour du Rwanda, this is my last, and I am desperate to finish with a good performance.” Ruhumuriza, was the face of Rwandan cycling when he won four consecutive Tour du Rwanda titles from 2002 to 2005, before adding the fifth and his last in 2007. Kenyan rider Peter Kamau took the 2006 race to deny the Rwandan a clean sweep of five in a row. “After this week, I have a different role to play in the team; I have to support and work closely with the other riders. I believe it’s the right time to retire from the Tour, and give an opportunity to the young and upcoming riders,” he said. Ruhumuriza got his speed bike in 1999 and began racing for Team Rwanda in 2008. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Tour du Rwanda: Ruhumuriza bids to sign off on a high