The 2023 Tour of Rwanda will embark from Kigali, Rwamagana, Gisagara, Huye, Musanze, Karongi, Rusizi, Rubavu, Gicumbi, Nyamata and features long climbs.
The opening three days will see teams heading to Kigali, Rwamagana, Gisagara, Huye along with Musanze, the rest of the route was unveiled on Thursday in Kigali during a ceremony before an audience in Kigali on Thursday.
Other highlights will be a pulsating penultimate day with a time trial over a 40km course on the cobbled roads of Nyamirambo town in Kigali, a new start in the heart of the new Golf Course of Kigali, a very difficult final finish, long climbs on most of the eight stages, as every year and the passages of the famous Kigali Wall and Mount Kigali.
The 15th edition of the Tour of Rwanda route slightly favours time-trial specialists with over 40km of time trials, although riders will also face four long mountain stages in Musanze, Huye, Rusizi and Rubavu.
The race also takes in Gicumbi town in Northern Province and Rusizi town in Western Province on the border with the DRC, with views across to the Congolese city of Bukavu.
The race begins with a 115km from Kigali to Rwamagana in first stage, before heading for the shortest distance of tour (132.9km) from by Kigali to Gisagara district.
But the key challenges will be on stage 3 which has the longest distance of 199.5km from Huye to Musanze.
The winner will pull on the yellow jersey after laps of the capital Kigali on the final day. The 15th edition of the Tour du Rwanda is said to take place from 19 to 26 February 2023.
Twenty teams have been selected, representing the major cycling nations of the African continent as well as the rest of the world, including teams acquainted to the most prestigious events on the international calendar, such as the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Tour of Spain.
Rwanda will be represented by its national team but also by its UCI Continental team, Benediction Cycling Team.
Routes
Stage 1: February 19: Kigali Golf Resort and Villas to Rwamagana (115.6km)
Stage 2: February 20: Kigali to Gisagara (132.9km)
Stage 3: Februray 21: Huye to Musanze (199.5km)
Stage 4: February 22: Musanze to Karongi (138.3km)
Stage 5: February 23: Rusizi to Rubavu (195.5km)
Stage 6: February 24: Rubavu to Gisumbi (157.0km)
Stage 7: February 25: Nyamata to Mountain Kigali (115.8km)
