In the end year 2018 message to Rwandans, Kagame said Rwanda achieved a lot last year and lot more is coming in 2019.
Among commendable achievements is the good performance in sports particularly in cycling as Team Rwanda won tournaments on African continent while it also participated in other worldwide biggest cycling races.
“In sports, Rwandans showcased ability and performed well on the international level mostly in cycling,” Kagame said.
Rwanda’s Cycling Team in 2018
The year 2018 started with Rwandans celebrating as Joseph Areruya became the first Rwandan to win the UCI (International Cycling Union) 2.1 race when he emerged winner of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, the biggest cycling race on the UCI-Africa Tour which was held in Gabon from 15th to 21st January 2018.
Areruya won the race in Team Rwanda jersey where he competed with Didier Munyaneza, Valens Ndayisenga, Jean Ruberwa, Jean Paul René Ukiniwabo and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana.
Joy for Rwandan lovers of the cycling game continued on February 4th,2018 when Rwanda’s U-23 team which was composed by Samuel Mugisha, Didier Munyaneza, Jean Paul René Ukiniwabo, Jean Ruberwa, Samuel Hakiruwizeye and Joseph Areruya won ‘Tour de l’Espoir’, a racing competition which was staged in Cameroon.
This made Rwanda qualify to U23 Tour de France which was held in France from 17th until 26th August 2018.
Rwandans won Tour du Rwanda for the fifth time in row when Samuel Mugisha was worn the yellow jersey at Kigali Stadium after covering the 953.2km distance of the 8-stage race in 24 hours, 26 minutes and 53 seconds.
To win the tour, Mugisha, ‘the King of the Mountains’ who also became the youngest rider to win the race in history, beat his closest contender and compatriot, Jean Claude Uwizeye by 21 seconds after the latter clocked 24h27’14” while Ethiopian Mulu Hailemicheal finished in the third place clocking 25h27’57”, one minute and four seconds behind.
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