Cycling: Rwandan Uwizeyimana Bonaventure set to join Europcar

Team Rwanda’s rider Bonaventure Uwizeyimana will join French cycling team Europcar between March and June, according to French media.

Rwanda Cycling Federation president Aimable Bayingana confirmed the development yesterday, saying if the deal goes through “it would constitute a major breakthrough for Rwanda’s cycling.”

Reports indicate that Europcar chairman Jean-René Bernaudeau wants to sign the 21-year old, initially for Europcar reserve side, after seeing him in action in last month’s La Tropicale Amissa Bongo tour in Gabon.

Uwizeyimana made headlines when he won Stage 5 of the 2014 Tropicale Amissa Bongo to become only the sixth African to win a stage in the tour’s history.

No details of the deal have been made public yet but the young rider is expected join the club in the spring to better adapt to European climate.

If he eventually joins the French cycling club, he will be the first Rwandan rider to feature for a European team.

Uwizeyimana won stage five of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo tour, Lambarene-Kango (143km) after clocking 3h16’31’.

Since 2009, Team Europcar are regular participants in the annual Tour of Rwanda.

Times Sport

UM– USEKE.RW