Inside the Tour du Rwanda
A look at the race so far and emerging South and Central American nations
Welcome to Global Peloton! It’s the first full edition!
It’s only February but it feels like there is so much going on in the cycling world.
The Tour du Rwanda is here and that means African cycling takes centre stage. It’s great to see so many African riders competing well against the Europeans.
A theme which has emerged for me this week is the wealth of talent coming from different nations in South and Central America - it’s not just Colombia and Ecuador anymore.
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Dan
Tour du Rwanda
It’s the biggest annual week of racing on the the continent of Africa as the big teams race alongside local talent in Rwanda.
The race was dominated in the first two stages by young Soudal Quick-Step sprinter, Ethan Vernon. Clearly on the flat stages, Vernon is on a different level from the rest.
The big climbs arrived on stage three, the riders had to go above two-thousand meters of altitude multiple times. Henok Mulubrhan won and took the race lead. It’s up to him and his team to hold onto that for the rest of the week. There’s lots more climbing to come.
Two years out from the Worlds in Rwanda, I was surprised not to see bigger names on the start-list. I expect this race to attract more high profile riders in the next two years.
Riders to Watch
Still, we do have some of Africa’s, and Europe’s, brightest young talents at the race. Here are three riders that I’ve been keeping a close eye on:
Eric Muhoza, 21, Rwanda, Team Bike Aid
Muhoza might be the best young prospect that Rwanda have. He spent a few months racing in France last year, winning the Tour du Pays de Chantonnay after completing the Tour de l’Avenir.
This year he’s signed for Bike Aid and debuts for them in his home race. 14th on GC last year, Muhoza will hope to improve that this week. I hope that he doesn’t have to do too much work for Dawit Yemane. So far he’s matched his more senior team-mate, currently sitting 9th on GC.
Aklilu Arefayne, 18, Eritrea, Eritrea National Team
After Biniam Girmay’s success, Arefayne has been snapped up by Intermarche’s development team this year. The team plan to give opportunities to Eritrean riders over the coming seasons, which is great to see.
Arefayne is an extremely talented young rider and he’s got the chance to race for himself this week. He had a tough stage three, losing a fair bit of time. He can now go for stages for the rest of the week.
Samuel Niyonkuru, 19, Rwanda, Rwanda National Team
Another big Rwandan prospect. Niyonkuru is a graduate of the Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy.
He had an opportunity to race in France last year with the Rouler pour le Rwanda programme. He deserves more opportunities which he may be able to secure with a big ride here.
All three of these riders have the potential to become established in the pro peloton. European experience is really the key to developing African riders and it’s usually very difficult to make this happen because of visas, cultural barriers and teams not wanting to take the chance on African riders.
With Israel-Premier Tech investing in Rwanda, it would be good to see them take on a Rwandan in the development team. They did make a move for one over the winter which didn’t work out. Niyonkuru would be a great fit.
The number of young male and female Africans getting opportunities in Europe this year gives real hope for the future. Hopefully the European teams have got their eyes on the race.
Inside the Race
Young climber Callum Ormiston is riding in Rwanda with big ambitions. The South African has an exciting season ahead with his new team, Global 6 Cycling. He’s riding with the South African national team this week and shared his thoughts from inside the race:
This is your third Tour du Rwanda, how does it compare with the other editions?
“The level definitely gets higher and higher each year with more and more pro teams coming here and bigger continental teams coming. I’m definitely feeling stronger. I feel like I can really try and get a result, I'm really hoping that I can show what I'm capable of.”
What are your goals for the race?
“I want to try and target one of the stages and try and get a result there. And obviously if it's possible a stage win would be amazing. But I’ll have to see how the stage is going and take it from there.”
And after you leave Rwanda, what’s next?
“After this for me, I will probably be flying off to Europe in about a month’s time. And then I think my first race with my new team will be in April so I’m excited for that.”
All the best to Callum as he goes for that stage win in the second half of the race. He currently sits in 29th on GC after going on the attack late on in stage 3.
Setmana Ciclista Valenciana
South Africa’s Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio was pipped to the win last week on the final stage of Setmana Ciclista Valenciana. It’s a strong start to life at her new team.
Moolman-Pasio competed alongside a raft of South and Central American riders in Spain. Some of the biggest talent in the women’s peloton seems to be coming from this region.
One of those is certainly Bizkaia-Durango’s Chilean 21-year-old Catalina Soto Campos. The national champion is in her second year with the Spanish team and took the opportunity to go in the break on the third stage.
It was a strong race for Cuba’s Arlenis Sierra. The sprinter finished in the top-10 on the first two stages. She’s a danger as the classics begin this weekend.
Agua Marina Espinola road her first race for CANYON // SRAM’s World Tour team. The Paraguayan impressed for CANYON // SRAM Generation last year and will race most of the season with the international development squad.
The other South and Central American riders in the race were Mexico’s Andrea Ramirez, Brazil’s Ana Vitoria Magalhães, and Chile’s Aranza Villalon.
More South Americans in Portugal
Portugal has become an access point for South Americans to be able to race in Europe. Not just Colombia either, at the Volta ao Algarve last week there were also riders from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Argentinian Tomas Contte is a rider I’ve been following for a little while. He’s a fast sprinter but tends to go for the breaks in the bigger races. That’s exactly what he did in stage 2. After the stage he told Global Peloton;
“The race at the beginning went very well. The objective was to escape on a day like today. We managed to get into the escape and make it through the day. We have a very good sprint finish tomorrow so we hope for the best.”
Unfortunately Tomas didn’t get to mix it up in the sprint on stage 3. It’s always difficult in these races for sprinters on Continental teams.
Others in the race included Chilean veteran Carlos Oyarzun and Argentinian Nahuel Dáquila Silva. Both ride alongside Contte at Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé Concelho.
Much was expected at the race from Uruguayan Mauricio Moreira who won the Volta Portugal last season. Unfortunately he didn’t finish the third stage.
Similar expectations were on Venezuelan fast-man Leangel Linarez. Just like Contte, he didn’t manage to compete in the sprints. Linarez had a top season last year, winning a stage of the Volta ao Alentejo.
Several Colombians have also found homes in Portuguese Continental teams. The best of these in the Algarve was Adrián Bustamente who finished a solid 34th overall.
In addition to the South Americans, a pair of Eritrean stars featured, both putting in strong performances.
Merhawi Kudus looked as strong as we’ve seen him in a few years riding in support of Magnus Cort, finishing 22nd overall himself on a parcours which wouldn’t ordinarily suit him.
Natnael Tesfatsion is a rider to watch this year. He’s known for his climbing ability but his sprint is not to be underestimated. The 23-year-old finished 7th on the opening sprint stage. I predict he’ll end the year with a World Tour win under his belt.
Under the Radar
Each week, I’ll pick out a rider from a lesser represented nation who has put in a good performance which went unnoticed.
I’ve mentioned three Chilean riders already, so let’s go for another one.
Jose Autran has had an excellent start to the season. The 23-year-old, who races for Spanish amateur team Super Froiz, won the Memorial Juan Santisteban on Sunday. The likes of Jefferson Cepeda, Xabier Azparren and Antonio Soto have been on the podium here in the past so it’s a good indicator for riders who may be able to have good pro careers.
Earlier in the month, Autran finished a solid 6th in the Vuelta del Porvenir San Luis in support of his team-mate and compatriot, Martin Vidaurre, who won the race overall.
Being part of Super Froix means that Autran will race a good Spanish amateur calendar this season, which is a good springboard straight to the pro ranks. I’m intrigued to follow his progress.
Have a look at Autran’s First Cycling profile.
Other News
Ethiopia’s Negasi Haylu Abreha debuted for Q36.5 at Tour Alpes Maritimes du Var
The Tour de Windhoek took place in Namibia. Melissa Hinz won the women’s race, Dirk Coetzee took the men’s
Bermuda’s Conor White won the Valley of the Sun Race in the USA. Justin Williams of Belize took the final stage
One of the oldest races in South America, the Rutas de America, is taking place in Uruguay. Alan Matias Presa currently leads.
20-year-old Aurelien de Comarmond of Mauritius is riding his first races since making the move to France. He’s taken two top-10s so far in the Circuit des Plages.
Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed won the Egyptian National TT and Road Championships
Thanks for reading Global Peloton!
I’ll be back next week to recap the rest of the Tour du Rwanda and look at the first big South East Asian race of the season, Jelajah Malaysia.
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Dan