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A team from the World Tour (the first division of international cycling), a total height difference of 17,000 meters, the return of a time trial stage ten years later and a new hill to climb over the thousand that counts the country ... the 12th edition of the Tour of Rwanda, from February 23 to March 1, 2020, promises to be grandiose.
A year ago, the Tour of Rwanda passed in category 2.1 on the calendar of the International Cycling Union, allowing it to invite teams of the highest international level. After the Astana team in 2019, the new Israeli formation, born from the merger between Israel Cycling Academy and Katusha, will represent the World Tour for this 12th edition of the most popular event in Africa. It will also be a great first for the Italian team Androni-Giocattoli who has trained the Colombian Egan Bernal, winner of the Tour de France 2019.
On February 23, in Kigali, we will also find regular teams like Delko-Marseille from Rwandan Joseph Areruya, winner in 2017, Total-Direct Energie (France), Novo Nordisk (USA), Bike Aid (Germany), without forgetting the African formations of Rwanda, Eritrea, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Algeria.
A stage with 4,279 m of elevation gain and a collar out of category
If the plateau is classic, the course has rarely been so difficult and spectacular.
After two first stages of warm-up in Kigali, then towards Huye, the serious things will start from the third day: the peloton will take the direction of Rusizi, in the west, crossing the Nyungwe National Park, known for its monkeys. But beyond the primates, it is the top of the tower that awaits the riders (2509 m) with a first category climb.
After the summit, the queen stage. The fourth day of racing towards Rubavu will be the longest: 206 kilometers to go up Lake Kivu from one end to the other with eight passes to the program of which three of the first category. Next, the pack will join the Volcanoes National Park (Step 5) before reaching Muhanga, "the city of kings" , passing through the tea and coffee fields (Step 6).
Stage 8
Tour of Kigali
Rebero - Mount Kigali - Rebero pic.twitter.com/x0C2ZXUv3H
The last two days of racing are just as exceptional with the first individual time trial (excluding prologue) since the first edition in 2009. At this 4.5km stage, the riders will have to climb the famous "Kigali Wall" they will find the next day for the final stage, to which will be added a new ascent: Mount Kigali, an off-grade pass.
With this course, it's a certainty, the future yellow jersey will have no choice but to work until the last meters of race, as often in Rwanda, the "country of a thousand hills" .
The stages of the Tour of Rwanda 2020:
Stage 1 - Sunday, February 23: Kigali Arena - Kigali Kimironko (114.4 km)
Stage 2 - Monday, February 24th: Kigali Mic Building - Huye (120,5 km)
Stage 3 - Tuesday, February 25th: Huye - Rusizi (142 km)
Step 4 - Wednesday, February 26: Rusizi - Rubavu (206,3 km)
Stage 5 - Thursday, February 27th: Rubavu - Musanze (84,7 km)
Stage 6 - Friday, February 28: Musanze - Muhanga (127,3 km)
Stage 7 - Saturday, February 29th: Kigali Nyamirambo - Kigali Wall (4.5 km, CLM IND)
Stage 8 - Sunday, March 1: Kigali Expo Round - Kigali Rebero (89,3 km)