Rwanda cycling team gears up for Francophone Games

Rwanda’s U-23 cycling team is undergoing intensive training at the Musanze-based Rwanda Cycling Federation centre. The team is preparing to compete in this year’s Francophone Games in Nice, France from September 6 to 15.

Bonaventure Uwizeyimana celebrates after winning a past local race.

Bonaventure Uwizeyimana celebrates after winning a past local race.

Team Rwanda will be made up of six riders, including the two South Africa-based Bonaventure Uwizeyimana and Janvier Hadi as well as four home-based Valens Ndayisenga, Jean Bosco Nsengiyumva, Emile Bintunimana and Patrick Byukusenge.

However, until now, only the four local riders are in camp in Musanze, while Uwizeyimana and Hadi are still training at the South Africa-based Team UCI Centre that will take part in this year’s ‘Tour of Rio’ set for August 28 to September 1 in Brazil.

Hadi and Uwizeyimana will link up with their four colleagues in France after the Tour of Rio.

Apart from cycling, Rwanda will also field competitors in other sports such as football, athletics, swimming, boxing and cultural events.

The host city of Nice will bring together more than 3,000 athletes from five continents competing in sporting and cultural events.

Rwanda cycling delegation will also include US-born team’s head coach Jonathan Boyer, his assistant Jimmy Jean de la Croix and team’s physiotherapist Obed Ruvogera.

Rwanda’s entire delegation will depart for the games on September 3, two days before the event’s official opening ceremony.

By Richard Bishumba, The New Times

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