The Rwanda Cycling Federation has organized a one- day race named Tour de Kigali that takes place around the city of Kigali on Saturday.
The race will have five categories, including men, juniors, seniors, women, and U23. The junior classes will compete for a complete range of 96 km, while the females will compete for 72 km, which is six laps.
Seniors and category U23 will race for 108 km
The Cycling Cup race, organized by the Rwanda Cycling Federation, enables local cyclists prepare for continental contests.
The event attracts all local cycling clubs including Rwandan cyclists from abroad. The riders will earn points from each race and the winner will be announced at the end of all the races.
As in its last four editions, the year- round series will end in December as Team Rwanda prepares for La Tropicale Amissa Bongo in January and Tour du Rwanda the following month.
The clubs that will participate in today’s race include Skol Fly Cycling Club, Cycling Club For All, Muhazi Cycling Generation, Kigali Cycling Club, Kayonza Young Stars Cycling Team, Les Amis Sportifs, Benediction Club, Karongi Vision Sports Center and Nyabihu Cycling Team.
The 5th edition will test the cycling authority and talent of cyclists trying to dethrone two- time winner Gasore Hategeka in the elite men’s category, Eric Muhoza in the junior men’s category, and Valentine Nzayisenga in the women’s category.
Gasore, 32, became the first cyclist to win the coveted Rwanda Cycling Cup twice last year after his 2016 triumph. Jean Bosco Nsengimana won the initial edition in 2015, while it was asserted by Patrick Byukusenge in 2017.
Inaugurated in 2015, the Rwanda Cycling Cup has since maintained Skol and Cogebanque as its primary sponsors.