Rwanda’s Valens Ndayisenga was crowned the winner of the 2014 Tour of Rwanda cycling tournament on November 23 — the first Rwandan to win it since 2009, when it was put on the international calendar. Rwandans now seem to have discovered a sport they can excel at.

“In cycling we have potential. Our boys have proved that they can compete with the best in the field. We have every reason to give them our support. This is one discipline in which I am sure we will not disappoint,” said Janvier Munyarukumbuzi, a cycling fan.

“The government should invest more in cycling,” said Munyarukumbuzi, who followed the four stages of the tour to different parts of the country.

The well organised tour attracted many African and foreign teams. The race has become so competitive that professional cycling teams scout for talent from it.

The Kenyan and Algerian national teams pulled out for what they termed said were logistical reasons. Teams Egypt, Novo Nordisk Development Team from the USA, Loup Sport from Switzerland and Scody Downunder from Australia declined to participate over “Ebola fears.”

The president of the Federation of Cycling in Rwanda (Ferwacy) Aimable Bayingana said the decision by the four teams to pull out over Ebola fears was “ridiculous and misinformed” as there has been no case of the illness reported in Rwanda.

The 13 teams that took part were Rwanda (Karisimbi, Akagera and Muhabura), South Africa, AS.BE.CO from Eritrea, the Eritrean National team, Ethiopia, Meubles Decarte from Switzerland, Bike Aid-Ride for Help from Germany, SNH Velo Club from Cameroon, Haute-Savoie from France, Morocco, and Burundi.

Competition was stiff as Rwandan riders including Ndayisenga, Jean Bosco Nsengimana, Joseph Biziyaremye and Hadi Janvier mounted a serious challenge, considering that the teams that participated had some of the top cyclists on the continent including Eritrean Debesay Mekseb, who rides for Bike Aid-Ride for Help.

Mekseb was in the running for the number 1 continental ranking against Moroccan Lahsaini Mouhssine, who also participated.

Competition

However, the Moroccan sustained serious in during a fall on the first stage from Kigali to Ngoma and had to be evacuated back to Kigali for treatment, before he went to Morocco for additional medical care.

“Those who say that the competition was minimal this year did not take time to look at the profiles of the participating riders and their achievements. You cannot have two top riders from the continent participating and say that it was not competitive,” said Bayingana.

He attributed Rwanda’s victory to hard work, investment, patience and overseas training programmes.

“The coaching team, led by Jonathan Jock Boyer, worked day and night. We ensured that the boys got training opportunities abroad, as well as facilitation to participate in different tours on the continent and beyond,” Bayingana said.

“It took them patience and hard work to get where they are today. Many of them are still young and have a lot to achieve in the coming years,” Coach Boyer said.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame took to Twitter to congratulate Ndayisenga and Ferwacy on a job well done. According to Ferwacy, a record four million people around the country watched the 933.8km race.