Africa-Press – Rwanda. Team Rwanda head coach David Louvet has called for more cycling competitions for them to able to perform better at international cycling races UCI Road World Championships caliber.
In the ongoing 98th edition, the first ever held in Africa, only two Rwandan riders managed to cross the finish line in the road race categories with Moise Ntirenganya finishing the Men’s Junior 119.3 km race, while Samuel Niyonkuru also finished the Men’s Under-23 164.6 km race.
“Only the Rwandan riders who compete in international races get the chance to finish. That’s why Samuel and Moise managed to do it. We need more competitions both local and outside the country. You can’t finish such tough races if you don’t compete regularly,” Louvet told Times Sport.
Ntirenganya and Niyonkuru also represented Rwanda at last year’s UCI World Championships in Zurich. Ntirenganya had the added benefit of an eight-month training camp in France, alongside Jazilla Mwamikazi.
Louvet believes expanding such opportunities is the key to ensuring more Rwandan riders finish and eventually contend for podium places.
“I feel grateful, and I think it’s a pleasure for the country. Of course, I didn’t make it to the podium, but it was important since we hosted the championship,” said Samuel Niyonkuru, who was Rwanda’s only finisher in the Men’s Under-23 road race, where his teammates Aime Ruhumuriza, Etienne Tuyizere, and Shadrack Ufitemana did not finish.
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