Edwin Kiplagat, Special to KweséESPN 6y

Rwanda's Adrien Niyonshuti wants third Olympic cycling berth

Cycling, Endurance, Olympic Sports

The economically-built, 5-foot-8 Adrien Niyonshuti is a giant in Rwandan cycling, a true pioneer of the sport on the African continent, and he is aiming for a third Olympic Games berth come Tokyo 2020.

A multiple national road champion and the first Rwandan to participate in the mountain bike race at the Olympics, he wants to make up for not completing the men's road race at Rio 2016 by tackling Tokyo's mountain track in two years' time.

Currently signed with South African amateur team Sampada, the Rwandan lives with his family in the beautiful city of Lucca, Italy, where he still dreams of racing in one of the Grand Tours.

"After I reached my dream of riding in the Olympics I said I want to be the first Rwandan to do one of the biggest races like Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España," he tells KweséESPN.

But first: "My goal is I want go to the Olympics again in mountain bike in 2020 Japan."

While he may not have the glittering CV of a Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx or Chris Froome, Nyonshuti has had a far greater impact on the sport, both on the road and in the mountains, in his home country than any foreign cycling star.

The 31-year-old from Rwamagana, a town some 50 kilometers east of the capital Kigali, helped spark a cycling revolution at home and, ever since his debut at the 2004 Tour du Rwanda, has kept adding to a long list of accomplishments, which includes launching his own cycling academy.

Most recently that list included racing with South African cycling team Dimension Data for Qhubekha, with whom he competed for nine seasons, alongside the likes of Mark Cavendish, until the end of 2017.

Jonathan 'Jock' Boyer, the first American to compete in the Tour de France, discovered and developed Nyonshuti and is the national coach of Team Rwanda and technical director of the Rwandan Cycling Federation. He feels that Nyonshuti may have reached his potential, at age 31.

"Adrien has raced in Europe for many years, so should have been able to reach his potential. Without the European experience he would have never be able to reach the level he did," Boyer tells KweséESPN.

But as a survivor of Rwanda's 1994 Genocide -- in which he lost a large part of his family -- Nyonshuti has weathered far bigger storms before. He's been the subject of a film and a book about his difficult life. Working his way back to the top must be an everyday goal in comparison.

"I hope next year I can get new team or I hope Sampada will grow and become a good continental team," he says.

Rwanda's extremely undulating topography, where hills often peak at 1,800 meters (almost 6,000 feet) above sea level and valleys can lie below 1,300 meters (4,000 feet), makes for some tough race conditions - but is also great training fare, enabling Rwanda to produce quality riders.

Boyer, who was inducted into the United States Cycling Hall of Fame in 1998, believes the day that 'Team Rwanda' produces a participant in one of the Grand Tours is not far away.

"Rwanda started at zero 11 years ago, the other countries like Eritrea and many of the West African countries have 50-plus years of cycling history. To have Rwanda reach the level they have in the time frame they have is already remarkable. Doing a Grand Tour is just a matter of time," he says.

"My hopes for Rwanda cycling is to continue and grow as a cycling nation. It is on the right track but will require a lot of effort to go to the next level."

Niyonshuti's story has inspired millions across Africa and around the world. Now, through a cycling academy in his home country, he is hoping to open more doors to younger cyclists who want to go pro.

"I always tell young Rwandan cyclists, both boys and girls, about my story. I want to help them reach their dream. I want to give them opportunities and open doors for them.

"When I retire, I want to be a coach for young Rwandans," he says.

Meantime, up-and-coming cyclists like Joseph Areruya (rider for ICU team Delko-Marseille Provence KTM) and Didier Munyaneza (star of the Rwanda Cycling Cup this year) are expected to keep flying the Rwandan cycling flag in Africa and beyond.

The next Olympics may mark a comeback for Rwanda's cycling pioneer, too.

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