Team Rwanda cyclists off to Cameroon

Team Rwanda's cyclists have left for the 2015 Tour of Cameroon which will take place from March 13 to 22, Ferwacy media officer Jacques Faraha has announced.

"The team is comprised of experienced Abraham Ruhumuriza, Nathan Byukusenge, Emile, Bintunimana, youngsters like Jean Claude Uwizeye and Camera Alias Hakuzimana," he said. They are accompanied by national coach Felix Sempoma and Jean de Dieu Uwimana the team mechanic.

80 cyclists from 9 teams are expected to take part in the 8-stage event covering a total distance of 959 km.

Other teams that will compete in Cameroon are Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Club Kamba de Pointe Noire of Congo Brazzaville, and European teams Auvergne de France, CB Banska Bystrica de Slovaquie, Club de la Défense de France and Meubles Descartes de Suisse.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing Tour of Algeria, Janvier Hadi became the first Rwandan to win a stage, the Grand Prix la Ville d'Oran, clocking a time of 3:7:34.

"The main objective of sending competing in Cameroon and Algeria is to earn points that will qualify Rwanda for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil," Faraha said.