Today Individual Time Trial (ITT): Nyamata 10am Itinerary Women: Nyamata-Mbyo-Nyamata 25km Junors’ men: Nyamata-Mbyo-Nyamata 25km Elites & U23 men: Nyamata-Ramiro-Nyamata 41.8km Sunday Road Race: Kigali-Kigali 9am Itinerary Amahoro stadium – Kimironko – Kibagabaga hospital MTN – RDB – Airtel – Amahoro stadium: 1lap (12.5km) Women: 6 laps – 75km Juniors’ men: 8 laps – 100km Elites & U23 Men: 12 laps – 150km It will be a rivalry for supremacy between local cycling teams this weekend as France-based Joseph Areruya eyes first national championship title. This year’s road championships, set for today and Sunday, have attracted a total nine cycling clubs affiliated to Rwanda Cycling Federation – Ferwacy. The national championship is fourth on the 11-race Rwanda Cycling Cup series. It is held annually and attracts riders from all local cycling clubs and foreign-based Rwandan cyclists, competing both in the Individual Time Trial (ITT) and the Road Race. Participants vie for honors in three sets; women, juniors and men’s elite & U23 categories. The ITT, race against the clock, will be held in Nyamata, Bugesera district in the Eastern Province while the road race will be held in Kigali with a total of nine teams set to compete. The confirmed teams to contest today include; Fly cycling club, Cycling Club for All (CCA), Muhanzi Cycling Generation, Cine Elmay, Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana, Club Benediction de Rubavu, Karongi Vision Sport Center, Nyabihu Cycling Club and Kigali Cycling Club. The Reigning La Tropicale Amissa Bongo and Tour du Rwanda champion Joseph Areruya who currently rides for French UCI continental professional side Delko–Marseille Provence KTM is the only foreign based rider in the championship this weekend and he seeks to replicate his recent heroic performance in different races on the continent. “I arrived here (Rwanda) on Wednesday evening. I have come to compete in the national championships, of course with a target of winning it,” said the 22-year old rider “The championships are always tough because both the ITT and the road race are one-day races. However, I am aware of the challenge and the riders that I will be competing against, this is one of the titles that I haven’t won so far and adding it to my cabin would be great,” he added His best performance at the annual event was in 2015, which is also his last appearance in the cycling event, where he finished second in the road race and third in the Individual Time Trial. The country’s reigning ITT champion Adrien Niyonshuti who rides for South Africa’s Sampada cycling team, Samuel Mugisha who rides for Team Dimension Data’s continental team and the duo of Jean Claude Uwizeye and Valens Ndayisenga who are with French club Pays Olonne Cycliste Côte de Lumière, all will not participate. In today’s ITT, the women will cover a distance of 25km, starting from Nyamata to Mbyo and back to Nyamata – same distance as junior category in men’s race. The men’s elite & U23 will cover a distance of 41.8km from Nyamata to Ramiro and back to Nyamata. Adrien Niyonshuti is the reigning champion in the elites while Ephrem Tuyishimire from Les Amis Sportifs won U23 category title last year. Fly Cycling Club’s Jean Eric Habimana is the defending champion in juniors whilst Beatha Ingabire claimed the women’s category crown. Meanwhile, the road race that will be held on Sunday, will cover a distance of 75km (6 laps) in women’s race, 100km (8 laps) in juniors and 150km (10 laps) in elites and U23 category. Gasore Hategeka from Nyabihu cycling club is the defending champion in the elite category while Eric Manizabayo from Club benediction holds the juniors’ title. Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana’s Beata Ingabire is also the defending champion in women’s road race category. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
