Latest news with #TourduRwanda
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cyclists 'felt safe' in Rwanda despite security concerns
Cyclists who took part in the Tour du Rwanda have told the BBC that they "felt safe" despite concerns over security at this year's route for the eight-day event passed close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo on two occasions, bringing competitors within 20 kilometres of the cities of Goma and Bukavu, both of which have been captured by the M23 rebel group in the last five led Belgian team Soudal Quick-Step to withdraw before the Tour South Africa national team rider Ryco Schutte told BBC Tigrinya he "wasn't feeling unsafe at any moment."Lotto Development Team's Belgian cyclist Kamiel Eeman added: "I really like Rwanda. I felt safe. I haven't noticed anything." 'No plan B' Rwanda has been accused by the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations of backing the M23 - an alleged alliance that has been consistently denied by both the Rwandan government and by the M23 leadership, least 8,500 people have been killed since fighting escalated in January, according to the Congolese authorities. Hundreds of thousands have also been forced from their homes amid the chaos triggered by the has led to calls for cycling's Road World Championships, due to be held in Rwanda in September, to be moved. Last week, a majority of members of the European Parliament voted to cancel the competition, external "if Rwanda does not change course," although it has no power over the speaking in Kigali ahead of the Tour, David Lappartient, the head of the sport's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), told Cyclingnews that "there is no plan B", is set to become the first African country to host the championships in its century-long history. It was selected in September 2021 during the UCI's 190th Congress, where Lappartient was re-elected unopposed as president for a second term."I am delighted that we are heading to Kigali," Lappartient added. 'Entirely safe for tourism and business' The Tour du Rwanda has been running since 1988. It began as a local event and gained UCI recognition in year's race had seven stages. Stage three ended in Rubavu, just across the border from Goma, and stage five started in Rusizi, which is next to Amani coach Tsgabu Grmay, who first raced in the Tour du Rwanda in 2010, believes the conflict did not have an impact on this year's edition."Everything is the Tour du Rwanda we've known before," said Grmay."Honestly, for me, it was all safe. I didn't feel anything like I was close to conflict really. I didn't see it. I didn't feel it."In a statement in January, the UCI said that "Rwanda remains entirely safe for tourism and business".Many Rwandans watching the Tour felt the same."I can assure everyone who is coming to Rwanda that it's safe," said Kampire Ovrine, a Rwandan brand ambassador on stage five in Huye."The conflicts out there, they're not going to affect the country."Hakizimana, a Kigali resident, told BBC Tigrinya: "For us, this is just international news. We still have a right to secure our borders and, as you can see, everything is running as usual."According to the Tour's official road book, external, security for this year's race convoy was assured by the Rwanda national police, with 38 officers and a deployment of 15 police motorbikes and four other vehicles. Mussa Kaberuka, a safety road manager for the Tour, said: "In general, security is good. 100 per cent."Rubavu and Rusizi, there are no problems." Sportswashing allegations Rwanda's government has been accused of investing in sport to enhance its global image and mask what one organisation has described as "an abysmal track record" on human rights - a strategy described as 'sportswashing'."Rwanda has major flaws with due process which violate its own internal laws or international standards," Lewis Mudge, the Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch, previously told BBC Sport Africa when discussing Rwanda's bid to host a Formula One grand prix."Increasingly we're seeing the space for freedom of expression, for some degree of political autonomy, is actually shrinking."The Rwandan government dismissed such accusations, with chief tourism officer Irene Murerwa calling them "a distraction" from the "amazing and outstanding achievements the country has made". Final stage cancelled French cyclist Fabien Doubey won this year's Tour du Rwanda after Sunday's final stage in Kigali was cancelled due to bad the race was halted, the leading peloton was just 12.5km from the finish. The seventh and final stage was meant to follow the same route planned for the UCI Road World was declared the winner based on results from the first six cyclist Henok Mulubrhan finished six seconds behind him in the general of the races in September's World Championships will be held in Kigali, which is more than 160km away from Goma and over 250km from Woldeab, a member of the Ethiopian Cycling Federation, thinks the location should allay any fears."We have been hearing there are conflicts around these cities," Woldeab told BBC Tigrinya."But we have seen nothing at all. Everything has been safe, everything has been under control."In the World Championships, Rwanda, I think, is ready for hosting that because it's held in only one city."
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Team to miss Tour du Rwanda over safety concerns
Soudal-QuickStep have pulled their development team out of the Tour du Rwanda because of safety concerns amid an ongoing conflict in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. The M23 rebel group has captured almost all of the eastern Congolese city of Goma, which is the largest city in eastern DR Congo and borders Rwanda. The Tour du Rwanda is scheduled to take place between 23 February and 2 March, with some of its seven stages passing close to DR Congo. Competing teams are scheduled for an overnight stay in Rubavu, which is located just over six miles (10km) from Goma, between stages three and four. "We looked at the situation yesterday. The start and finish in the risk area, where our hotel is also located, did worry us a bit," Soudal-QuickStep chief executive Jurgen Fore told Belgian website Sporza. "In the end, we made the decision not to send 20 people there if there was no absolute guarantee that this could be done safely." Earlier this week, Tour du Rwanda organisers released a statement saying the race would go ahead as planned and "riders, teams and supporters can be assured of a safe and enjoyable event". Rwanda is set to become the first African nation to host the Road World Championships later this year, with the event scheduled to take place in Kigali from 21-28 September. Kigali is 60 miles as the crow flies from Goma, while the shortest drive between the two cities by road is a 100-mile route through western Rwanda's mountainous terrain. Cycling's world governing body, the UCI, has said it has no plans to move the competition away from Rwanda.
BBC News
08-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Team to miss Tour du Rwanda over safety concerns
Soudal-QuickStep have pulled their development team out of the Tour du Rwanda because of safety concerns amid an ongoing conflict in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of M23 rebel group has captured almost all of the eastern Congolese city of Goma, which is the largest city in eastern DR Congo and borders Tour du Rwanda is scheduled to take place between 23 February and 2 March, with some of its seven stages passing close to DR teams are scheduled for an overnight stay in Rubavu, which is located just over six miles (10km) from Goma, between stages three and four."We looked at the situation yesterday. The start and finish in the risk area, where our hotel is also located, did worry us a bit," Soudal-QuickStep chief executive Jurgen Fore told Belgian website Sporza., external"In the end, we made the decision not to send 20 people there if there was no absolute guarantee that this could be done safely."Earlier this week, Tour du Rwanda organisers released a statement, external saying the race would go ahead as planned and "riders, teams and supporters can be assured of a safe and enjoyable event".Rwanda is set to become the first African nation to host the Road World Championships later this year, with the event scheduled to take place in Kigali from 21-28 is 60 miles as the crow flies from Goma, while the shortest drive between the two cities by road is a 100-mile route through western Rwanda's mountainous world governing body, the UCI, has said it has no plans to move the competition away from Rwanda.
Reuters
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Soudal-QuickStep pull out of Tour du Rwanda due to safety concerns
Feb 8 (Reuters) - Cycling team Soudal-QuickStep have pulled out of this month's Tour du Rwanda, citing safety concerns over the conflict in neighbouring eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Some towns and cities on the seven-stage race's route are close to the country, where Rwandan-backed rebels are trying to expand their territory after capturing the key city of Goma. Organisers of the Feb. 23-March 2 race have said the fighting is unlikely to enter into Rwanda and that teams and supporters would be safe. "We looked at the situation yesterday. The start and finish in the risk area, where our hotel is also located, did worry us a bit," Soudal-QuickStep's CEO Jurgen Fore told Belgium's state-funded sports website Sporza on Friday. "In the end, we made the decision not to send 20 people there if there was no absolute guarantee that this could be done safely." Rwanda's capital Kigali is also set to host this year's Road World Championships from 21-28 September.
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
No plans to move world cycling event away from Rwanda
Cycling's world governing body, the UCI, says it has no plans to move the 2025 Road World Championships away from Rwanda amid the ongoing conflict in neighbouring DR is set to become the first African nation to host the event from 21-28 M23 rebel group has captured almost all of the eastern Congolese city of Goma and threatened to continue its offensive to the capital, Kinshasa, which is 2,600km (1,600 miles) UCI said it is "closely monitoring developments" and their potential impact on organisation of the championships in added that Rwanda "remains entirely safe for tourism and business" because fighting is confined to DR Congo."Following the spread of rumours on this subject, the UCI clarifies that no relocation of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships from Rwanda to Switzerland or any other location is planned at this time," a statement on the governing body's website said."We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution of the situation."The UCI wishes to emphasise that sport, and cycling in particular, are powerful ambassadors for peace, friendship, and solidarity." Cycling official says Rwanda 'is safe' United Nations experts have accused Rwanda of backing M23 rebels, which the authorities in Kigali have previously Congo's foreign minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner has told the BBC that Rwanda is illegally occupying her country and attempting to orchestrate regime government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo denied the accusation and said its troops were only deployed to prevent the conflict spilling over to its the route of the Tour du Rwanda, which beings on 23 February and runs until 2 March, could yet be affected by the situation in DR teams are scheduled for an overnight stay in Rubavu, which is located just 10km from Goma, in between stages three and a Tour du Rwanda spokesman said that no team has expressed any safety concerns."The war is in [DR] Congo not in Rwanda, why would we change our routes?" the race's head of communications Kayishema Tity Thierry told BBC Sport Africa."[Teams] know how Rwanda keeps its promise. If we say we are safe that means we are safe."President Kagame promised Rwandans to continue their usual business and go home sleep well."
