Rwanda Cycling Federation (RCF) has plans to form a national women’s team, federation president has confirmed. Aimable Bayingana made the revelation last weekend at the closing ceremony of this year’s Tour de Kigali. He said, We are going to form a women national team and start organizing more competitions, locally as well as giving them a chance to participate in international events. Bayingana applauded the turn up and performance of female riders in the tour and said there are plans to organize an exclusive race for them in September. The event attracted a total of 68 participants, 50 of them coming from registered clubs among them eight being female riders. Mediatrice Nyirarangwa, the winner in the girls’ category said, In the past, we have not been able to participate in any international event and we want to see that change. She also urged the federation to let the female riders go the same lengths as their male counterparts and have the winners’ prizes be the same. Female riders normally race half the distance of their male counterparts and get half the winner’s prize. Last Sunday, while the males rode 130km and the winner walked away with Frw200.000, the female did 65km with the winner taking home Frw50.000 and two crates of soda. However, after hearing the cries of the female riders, RCF boss, Bayingana promised to look into the matter for future events. Ends
