Category: <span>News</span>

1. Joseph Areruya (Rwanda) – 10:27:34
2. El Mehdi Chokri (Morocco) 10:30:14
3. Al Kouraji Mohane (Morocco) – 10:30:40
4. Jean Paul Rene Ukiniwabo (Rwanda) – 10:32:27
5. Aidan Van Niekerk (South Africa) – 10:33:02
Stage 4: Top five
1. Henok Mulueberhan (Eritrea) – 1:50:44
2. El Mehdi Chokri (Morocco) – 1:50:44
3. Abdelraouf BEngayou (Algeria) – 1:50:47
4. Joseph Areruya (Rwanda) – 1:50:47
5. Alexandre Mayer (Mauritius) – 1:50:50

Joseph Areruya cemented his place as arguably Africa’s best rider in the last four months after the 21-year-old won the inaugural U-23 UCI Tour de l’Espoir in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Sunday evening.

Eritrean Rhan Henok Muluebe won the fourth and final stage (80.1km) from Akono-Yaoundé after using 1 hour, 50 minutes and 44 seconds. However, the day belonged to Team Rwanda lead cyclist Areruya, who claimed the four-stage competition despite finishing fourth on the final day.

Victory for Areruya, qualified him and Team Rwanda to this year’s Tour de l’Avenir, the world’s top-rated U23 cycling event scheduled for August 17-26 in France.

Tour le d’Avenir is the third consecutive victory for the Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka’s rider Areruya, who claimed Tour du Rwanda last November and La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, Africa’s biggest cycling event, last month in Libreville, Gabon.

While Eritreans showed great individual performances, winning three of the four stages, Team Rwanda displayed the highest level of teamwork. Only 20-year-old Samuel Mugisha won stage three on Saturday in a two-man finish sprint with teammate Areruya.

Sterling Magnell’s Team Rwanda finished top of the 15-team table to emerge champions of the 4-stage Tour de l’Espoir that covered a total 447km distance, while hosts Cameroon scooped the fair-play award and Morocco was voted the most combative team.

After Tour de l’Espoir, the focus will now shift to the forthcoming UCI Africa Road Championship scheduled for February 13-18 in Rwanda.

Credit: The New Times

Rwanda international Areruya, also the reigning Tour du Rwanda champion, is the first Rwandan and third African cyclist to win the UCI 2.1 category race after Eritrean Natnael Berhane in 2014 and Tunisia’s Rafaâ Chtioui in 2015.

At 21, he is also among the youngest winners of the elite race.

Areruya claimed also Africa’s highly rated cycling event in Gabonese capital, Libreville, a month after being named the second African best cyclist of the year, 2017, losing the crown to South Africa’s Louis Meintjes.

Last November, Dimension Data for Qhubeka rider Areruya became the third Rwandan to win Tour du Rwanda, the annual UCI-Africa, category 2.2 road race since it became part of UCI-Africa Tour in 2009, after Valens Ndayisenga, (2014 and 2016) and Jean Bosco Nsengimana, in 2015.

Arguably Rwanda’s most successful rider in history and among Africa’s greats at the moment, Areruya is the first cyclist to ever concurrently hold La Tropicale Amissa Bongo and Tour du Rwanda crowns.

Rwanda was represented by six riders at the seven-stage race in Gabon, coached by Felix Sempoma while Obedi Ruvogera was the team doctor and Eric Maniraho was the mechanic.

The six riders are; Didier Munyaneza, Jean-Damascene Ruberwa and Jean-Paul Rene Ukiniwabo, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Valens Ndayisenga and Areruya.

Ndayisenga and Uwizeyimana pulled out of the race in stage 5 due to accidents.

After the La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, which is the first race on the UCI Africa Tour calendar, focus will shift to next month’s UCI African Continental Road Championship slated for February 13-18 in Rwanda.

<The New Times>

1. Pacioni Luca Wilier (Triestina-Selle Italia) 3h7’29”
2. Jones Brenton (Delko-Marseille Provence) 3h7’ 29”
3. Reguigui Youcef (Dimension Data) 3h7’29”
4. Petit Adrien (Direct Energie of France) 3h7’29”
5. Lucas Carstensen (Bike Aid) 3h7’29”

General Classification

1. Joseph Areruya (Rwanda) 23h52’24” 
2. Holler Nikodemus (Bike Aid) 23h52’24”
3. Gaudin Damien (Team Direct Energie) 23h53’14”
4. Koshevoy Ilia (Wilier-Triestina) 23h54’15”
5. Jones Brenton (Delko Marseille Provence) 23h59’51”

Joseph Areruya has made history by becoming the first Rwandan to win La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, the biggest cycling race on the UCI-Africa Tour, which concluded on Sunday in Gabon.

The 21-year-old Areruya also becomes the first rider to hold both the Tour du Rwanda and La Tropicale Amissa Bongo titles simultaneously. The champion is now the most successful Rwandan cyclist in history of UCI Cycling 2.1 stage race.

The team Rwanda rider, who led the race after his victory in stage 4, won this year’s edition after clocking a total of 23hrs, 52 minutes and 24 seconds, ahead of Nikodemus Holler, who rides for Germany-based UCI Continental Team Bike Aid (23hrs, 52 minutes and 24 seconds).

Damien Gaudin (Direct Energie) of France finished third overall in 23h53’14”, Koshevoy Ilia (Wilier-Triestina) took fourth place with 23hrs, 54 minutes and 15 seconds and Australian Brenton Jones (Delko Marseille Provence) completed the top five with 23h59’ 51”.

Areruya, helped by teammates; Didier Munyaneza, Jean Damascene Ruberwa and Jean Paul Rene Ukiniwabo, managed to keep the yellow jersey for three days despite facing stiff competition from Nikodemus Holler.

In the last stage, which was 7th from Bikélé – Libreville covering 139.5 km, Areruya, who rides for South Africa’s Dimension Data for Qhubeka, kept the lead until the end of the race. Triestina-Selle Italia rider Luca Pacioni won the stage in a time of 3h7’29”.

The Italian rider crossed the finish line ahead of Brenton Jones (Delko-Marseille Provence-KTM), winner of 2 stages in this year’s race, and Algerian Youcef Reguigui (Sovac – Natura4Ever). Areruya came in 24th position with same time as the stage winner.

In November last year, Areruya became the third Rwandan to win Tour du Rwanda, the annual UCI-Africa, category 2.2 road race since it became part of UCI-Africa Tour in 2009, after Valens Ndayisenga, (2014 and 2016) and Jean Bosco Nsengimana, in 2015.

Areruya won a stage in Giro d’Italia in European UCI race last year.

After the La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, which is the first race on the UCI Africa Tour calendar, focus will shift to next month’s UCI African Continental Road Championship slated for February 13-18 in Rwanda.

La Tropicale; 10 past winners:

2018: Joseph Areruya (Rwanda)
2017: Yohann Gène (France)
2016: Adrien Petit (France)
2015: Rafaâ Chtioui (Tunisia)
2014: Natnael Berhane (Eritrea)
2013: Yohann Gène (France)
2012: Anthony Charteau (France)
2011: Anthony Charteau (France)
2010: Anthony Charteau (France)
2009: Mathieu Ladagnous (France)

The course, conducted by Eugene Nzabanterura, an official of the Rwanda National Olympics and Sports Committee (RNOSC), had two categories; one for the ‘Directors of Sports’ in different districts and another for the leaders/officials of national sports federations.

RNOSC president, Ambassador Valens Munyabagisha said that, “It’s our duty as National Olympic Committee to train sports leaders at different levels the values and importance of sports, who in turn also train other Rwandans in the different parts of the country.”

“Sports is very important in life, RNOSC is responsible for decentralizing sports in general and we plan more training for sports administrators and other sports stockholders in difference categories,” Amb. Munyamabagisha added.

He also appealed to the trainees to put to better use the knowledge they acquired by sensitizing Rwandans to embrace ‘Sports for All.’

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, John Ntigengwa, who was the guest of honour at the closing ceremony, said, “This training has come at a good time when the government has embarked on a seven-year plan to promote sports.”

“As MINISPOC we will set guidelines for sports development policy and the implementation is done by people like you (trainees) and all the other stakeholders,” he noted.

Isabelle Nizeyimana, one of the trainees noted that, “This training is really important especially for the women, who never used to get involved in the sports activities but now we are engaged in the sports and we are capable of taking up leadership positions.”

Source: The New Times.

Monday
Rwanda 0-0 Nigeria 
Libya 3-0 Equatorial Guinea

Next Fixtures
Friday, January 19
Rwanda vs Equatorial Guinea
(Grand Stade de Tanger, 21:30)

Tuesday, January 23
Rwanda vs Libya (Grand Stade de Tanger, 21:00)

Rwanda held Nigeria to a goalless draw in their first game of Group C of the Total Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), played at Grand Stade de Tanger in Morocco on Monday night.

Rwanda’s Amavubi started the better side but not before long, the Super Eagles of Nigeria took control of the game.

Amavubi head coach Antoine Hey started upfront Bernabe Mubumbyi and Abeddy Biramahire but the duo’s impact was arguably below par, at least in the first 50 minutes.

In the ninth minute, Sunday Faleye of the Super Eagles hit the woodwork with a header that took Rwanda’s goalkeeper, Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye by surprise.

Ndayishimiye who was making his 44th cap for Amavubi, pulled off three great saves to keep Rwanda into the game.

In the 57th minute, Okogbue Kalu managed to put the ball behind Ndayishimiye’s net but he was ruled offside.

Two minutes later, Nigeria had another chance but Stephen Eze’s header went wide.

Bizimana poses with his ‘Man of the Match’ award after the match. Courtesy.

Amavubi made two significant attempts through Eric Rutanga and Bernabe Mubumbyi in the first half but both efforts produced nothing.

Ali Rabiu of the Super Eagles had another opportunity to score after Ndayishimiye saved Osas’s cross, however his shot went wide.

Later in the game, Justin Mico came on for Mubumbyi during the second half to reinforce the striking line while Dominique Savio Nshuti replaced Abeddy Biramahire.

Nshuti and Mico gave the opponent’s defence a hard time but this yielded no result as they failed to see the back of the net.

Mico was later replaced by Amran Nshimiyimana after an injury.

Altogether, Rwanda earned three corners in the game against nine that went to their West African opponents.

Meanwhile, in the other game of Group C, Libya thrashed Equatorial Guinea 3-0, a victory that put Libya top of group C with three points.

Rwanda and Nigeria have one point each while Equatorial Guinea is bottom of the table.

The next game for Amavubi will be against Equatorial Guinea on Friday this week and later face Libya on Tuesday next week.

Both games will be played at Stade de Tanger.

Source: The New Times.