Rwanda Cycling Federation has released names of local and international riders who will start Tour du Rwanda on 12 November in Kigali.
With just two days left to the start of the 2017 Tour du Rwanda edition, Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY) has confirmed the start list of riders who will be competing in the most exciting UCI 2.2 event which starts on November 12 until 19, 2017.
The Tour du Rwanda start list of 79 riders representing six national teams and eleven professional clubs has official race numbers, with defending champion Rwandan Ndayisenga Valens, currently with Austria’s Tirol Cycling team, taking the number one position.
Ndayisenga’s team mates Gamper Patrick, Knapp Daniel and Vermeulen Moran occupy the remaining top three starting slots.
Other teams to watch during this year’s edition include Dimension Data for Qhubeka which will be led by Eritrean Eyob Metkel alongside Rwandan dup of Areruya Joseph and Mugisha Samuel, Weldu Hafetab and South African De Bod Stefan.
Other teams to watch include Team Rwanda composed of Nsengimana Jean Bosco, Uwizeye Jean Claude, Byukusenge Patrick, Ukiniwabo Jean Paul Rene and Munyaneza Didier; Benediction club which will be composed of Hategeka Gasore, Nduwayo Eric, Ruberwa Jean, Nizeyimana Alexis and Uwizeyimana Bonaventure among others.
Since 2014, Rwandans have dominated the annual competition. In 2014, Valens Ndayisenga, who then was riding for Team Rwanda Kalisimbi, made history becoming the first Rwandan to win the annual race since it became part of UCI Africa 2.2 tour and in 2015, Jean Bosco Nsengimana, also riding for Kalisimbi claimed it.
Last year, Ndayisenga, riding for South Africa’s Dimension Data for Qhubeka, triumphed and in the process, became the first rider to win it more than once since it became an international race in 2009.
For this year, the Rwamagana-born rider will be racing for Austria’s Tirol Cycling team. Other Rwandan professional riders tipped to shine are; Samuel Mugisha and Joseph Areruya, who are contracted to Dimension Data for Qhubeka.
The big names that will likely race for local teams include; Nsengimana, Jean Claude Uwizeye, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Patrick Byukusenge and Gasore Hategeka.
The Tour du Rwanda has established itself as one of Africa’s major stage races and has helped a lot of African riders to develop themselves
1. Tirol Cycling Team
1 Ndayisenga Valens
2 Gamper Patrick
3 Knapp Daniel
4 Vermeulen Moran
Dimension Data
11 Eyob Metkel
12 Areruya Joseph
13 Mugisha Samuel
14 Weldu Hafetab
15 De Bod Stefan
Eritrea National Team
21.Okubamariam Tesfom
22. Musie Mehari Saymon
- 23 Tsegay Amanueal
- 24 Debretsion Aron
- 25 Mebrahtom Natnael
Rwanda National Team
31 Nsengimana Jean Bosco
- 32 Uwizeye Jean Claude
- 33 Byukusenge Patrick
- 34 Ukiniwabo Jean Paul Rene
- 35 Munyaneza Didier
BIKE AID
- 41 Holler Nikodemus
- 42 Kipkemboi Salim
- 43 Kangangi Suleiman
- 44 Langat Geoffrey
- 45 Van Engellen Adne
BENEDICTION CLUB
- 51 Hategeka Gasore
- 52 Nduwayo Eric
- 53 Ruberwa Jean
- 54 Nizeyimana Alexis
- 55 Uwizeyimana Bonaventure
Kenyan Riders SAFARICOM
- 61 Kiplagat Kelvin Kiping’Etich
- 62 Gathiambo Joshpat
- 63 Kariuki John
- 64 Kimutai Andrew
- 65 Kipkemboi Kiplagat Cornelius
HAUTE SAVOIE AUVERGNE RHONES ALPES
- 71 Fournet Fayard Sebastien
- 72 Clavel Sylvain
- 73 Jeannes Mathieu
- 74 Roux Nicolas
- 75 Goudin Valentin
ALGERIE National Team
- 81 Lagab Azzedine
- 82 Mansouri Abderrahmane
- 83 Mansouri Islam
- 84 Lounis Mehdi
- 85 Hamza Yacine
ETHIOPIE National Team
- 91 Giday Kibrom
- 92 Gebremariam Fiseha
- 93 Ebrahim Redwan
- 94 Gebrewahd Tamrat Meresa
- 95 Redae Tedros
LOWESTRATES.CA
- 101 McPhaden Cameron
- 102 Keeping Stephen
- 103 Cusson Fradet Jules
- 104 Wachtendorf Brelt
- 105 Greene Edward
LES AMIS SPORTIFS
- 111 Tuyishimire Ephrem
- 112 Rugamba Janvier
- 113 Uwingeneye Jimmy
- 114 Hakiruwizeye Samuel
- 115 Mfitumukiza Jean Claude
DUKLA BANSKA BYSTRICA
- 121 Tybor Patrik
- 122 Oros Samuel
- 123 Foltan Adrian
- 124 Mahdar Martin
- 125 Palcak Josef
MAURITIUS National Team
- 131 Rougier-Lagane Christopher
- 132 Le Court de Billot Olivier
- 133 Mayer Alexendre
- 134 Lincoln Yannick
- 135 How Saw Keng Mathew
TEAM ILLUMINATE
- 141 Avila Vanegas Edwin Alcibiades
- 142 Mccutcheon Connor
- 143 Piper Cameron
- 144 Eastern Griffin
- 145 Pellaud Simon
MAROC Nation Team
- 151 AIT El bdia Anass
- 152 Benouzza Hicham
- 153 Sabbahi Lahcen
- 154 Sabbahi El Houcaine
- 155 Saber Lahcen
