Rwanda has begun preparations for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships with 19 cyclists selected for a training camp in Musanze ahead of the competition in Canada next month.
The cyclists started training this week at the UCI Regional Satellite Centre and will remain in camp until Sept. 16 before travelling to Montréal, which will host the championships from Sept. 20-27.
National team coach Félix Sempoma selected riders in the elite, Under-23 and junior categories for the preparations.
The women’s junior team comprises Yvonne Masengesho, Donatha Akimana and Zawadi Kanyange.
The elite and Under-23 women’s group includes Xaveline Nirere, Claudette Nyirarukundo, Diane Ingabire, Liliane Uwiringiyimana, Mariate Byukusenge and Jazilla Mwamikazi. Uwiringiyimana, Byukusenge and Mwamikazi are in the Under-23 category, while Mwamikazi is currently training in Europe.
Shemu Nsengiyumva is the only rider above 23 in the men’s elite category. He will train alongside Shadrack Ufitimana, Aimé Ruhumuriza, Kevin Nshutiraguma and Samuel Niyonkuru.
The junior men’s squad includes Brian Ishimwe, Jackson Nkurikiyinka, Jonathan Rafiki Muhawenimana, Pacifique Byusa and Jules Mugabo.
The championships will be the 99th edition of the UCI Road World Championships, following the 2025 event in Kigali, the first time the competition was held on African soil.
Rwanda was represented by 23 cyclists in Kigali last year. Fourteen of those riders have been selected for this year’s preparations, including Nsengiyumva, Niyonkuru, Ufitimana, Ruhumuriza, Nshutiraguma, Ishimwe, Byusa, Nkurikiyinka, Ingabire, Nyirarukundo, Uwiringiyimana, Mwamikazi, Nirere and Masengesho.
The Montréal championships will run from Sept. 20 to 27, giving the Rwandan team just over a week between the end of its Musanze camp and the start of competition.
