Nsengimana vows to win second Tour du Rwanda title

The 2015 Tour du Rwanda winner, Jean-Bosco Nsengimana has sent a warning to his rivals that he is coming to win the UCI Africa category 2.2 Road Race for a second time when this year’s 9th edition gets underway from November 12-19. “I have faith in my ability as well as my teammates to make a difference because we have improved a lot over the years, and I believe, with their (teammates) help, I can win the tour again,” Nsengimana told Times Sport. Nsengimana, 23 will lead the five-man Team Rwanda that also includes; Jean-Claude Uwizeye, Patrick Byukusenge as well debutants René Jean-Paul Ukiniwabo and Didier Munyaneza. Asked if he’s ready to win the international race for a second time, he replied, “Yes completely, I have not stopped dreaming. I have that goal in mind and I trust we will achieve it with my teammates.” Rwanda will be represented by three teams, including Team Rwanda, Benediction Club de Rubavu that will comprise Gasore Hategeka, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Jean Ruberwa, Eric Nduwayo and Alex Nizeyimana. The third team will be Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana that will consist of Samuel Hakiruwizeye, Janvier Rugamba, Jean Claude Mfitumukiza, Jimmy Uwingeneye and Ephrem Tuyishimre. The two-time Tour du Rwanda winner and reigning champion, Valens Ndayisenga, will ride for Austria-based Tirol Cycling Team while Joseph Areruya and Samuel Mugisha will be riding for UCI Continental Team Dimension Data of South Africa. Nsengimana finished 6th overall on his Tour du Rwanda debut in 2013 and took second place in 2014, behind Ndayisenga before claiming the crown in 2015, a year in which he won stages 3 and 6 as well as the Prologue (ITT) and was also named the best young rider. But things didn’t go well for him and his Germany-based UCI Team Bike Aid last year when he could only manage 9th place in general classification. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Nsengimana vows to win second Tour du Rwanda title