http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-11-08/205134/
85 riders for 2016 Tour du Rwanda
By: GEOFFREY ASIIMWE
PUBLISHED: November 08, 2016
A total of 85 cyclists from across the world will compete in next week’s 8th edition of the annual Tour du Rwanda, according to the organisers, the Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY).
The 2.2 UCI-Africa Tour road race gets underway on November 13 and will run through November 20, attracting 17 teams, each fielding five riders.
Rwanda will be represented by three teams namely; Team Rwanda, Benediction Club and Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana.
Among the 17 teams include eight African national teams, Team Rwanda, Team Kenya, Team Cameroon, Team South Africa, Team Ethiopia, Team Eritrea, Team Egypt and Team Algeria.
“Each of the 17 teams has confirmed their participation and the five cyclists they will be fielding, we expect a total of 85 riders this year,” FERWACY president Aimable Bayingana told Times Sport in a phone interview on Monday.
The race will also have four UCI continental teams, which include Dimension Data For Qhubeka (South-Africa), Kenyan Riders Downunder (Kenya), Cycling Academy Team (Israel), and Stradalli-Bike Aid (Germany).
In addition, five clubs from different countries have confirmed their participation. They include Rwanda’s Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana and Benediction Club (Rubavu district), as well as Team Lowest rates.Com (Canada), Team Haute-Savoie Rhone-Alpes (France) and Team Furniture Decarte (Switzerland).
Canada’s Lowest rates.com were the first foreign team to arrive in Rwanda on Sunday.
The other teams are expected to arrive in the country to arrive this week.
Since 2009 when Tour du Rwanda became part of the UCI-Africa Tour, a total of 330 riders, representing 37 countries and five continents, have participated in the annual event.
Rwandan teams:
Team Rwanda
Nathan Byukusenge
Abraham Ruhumuriza
Joseph Biziyaremye
Gasore Hategeka
Eric Nduwayo
Benediction Club
Patrick Byukusenge
Samuel Mugisha
Jean Ruberwa
Jeremy Karegeya
Alex Nizeyimana
Les Amis Sporif
de Rwamagana
Joseph Areruya
Jean Claude Uwizeye
Mathieu Twizerane
Ephrem Tuyishimire
Samuel Hakiruwizeye
editorial_at_newtimes.co.rw
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Team Eritrea
The Final selection of Team Eritrea’s for Tour of Rwanda 2016
Tesfom Okubamariam
Elyas Afewerki
Dawit Haile
Kebrom Mehari
Zemenfes Solomon
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Team Rwanda, who won the last two editions, will be one of three teams flying the flag for Rwanda. They will be joined by the debutant Benediction Club and Les Amis Sportifs to round of the Rwandan line-up.
As well as Dimension Data, the line-up also includes Tirol Cycling Team who won this year’s Tour of Ireland, Cycling Academy of Israel, Lowestrates.Com from Canada,Germany-based Stradalli Bike Aid and Sharjah Cycling Team
Team South Africa,Team Eritrea and Team Algeria are among the strong African national squads that will take part in this year’s race
“We are honored to have an incredible international field for this year’s edition.Tour of Rwanda is getting bigger with teams from Africa,Europe,Asia and America.This shows our continuing growth and importance on international cycling calendar.There is also a strong Rwandan showing with Rwandan riders who will be riding for foreign teams such as Dimention Data and Stradalli Bike Aid”said Aimable Bayingana,the President of Rwanda Cycling Federation.
Last year’s race was won by Team Rwanda’s Bosco Nsengimana who now rides for Stradalli Bike Aid.
The 2016 race commences in Kigali on Sunday, November 13 and concludes with a circuit race in Kigali on November 20.
2016 Tour du Rwanda Teams
Rwandan teams:
Team Rwanda
Benediction Club
Les Amis Sportifs
African national teams:
Team South Africa
Team Ethiopia
Team Eritrea
Team Egypt
Team Algeria
Uci continental teams:
Dimension Data for Qhubeka (South-Africa)
Kenyan Riders Downunder (Kenya)
Sharjah Cycling Team (United Arab Emirates)
Cycling Academy Team (Israel)
Tirol Cycling Team (Austria)
Stradalli Bike Aid (Germany)
Regional teams:
Team Lowestrates.com (Canada)
Team Haute-Savoie Rhône-Alpes (France)
Team Meubles Decarte (Switzerland)
http://www.tourdurwanda.rw/News/article/2016-Tour-du-Rwanda-teams-announced
Received on Tue Nov 08 2016 - 12:25:24 EST