Kimberly Coats

Porto Novo, Benin to the UCI World Championships

October 3, 2024

In 2017, Team Africa Rising launched its 18-month phase-out plan from Rwanda. It was an intentional decision to continue giving the Rwandan Cycling Federation financial support on a diminishing scale over time. TAR continued to offer access to sponsors, coaches,…

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Biniam Girmay Sprints into the History Books

July 2, 2024

Biniam Girmay, a world class cyclist from Eritrea, became the first Black African to win a stage at the Tour de France. Today was the day. History was written. After 15 years of dogged determination, a commitment to African cycling…

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It Takes a Village

January 9, 2024

Most of you who follow African cycling and the challenges and obstacles we face on the continent will not be surprised by the following story. What you may not fully understand and appreciate is the deep love for the sport.…

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What African Cyclists Need

August 15, 2023

I have been working in African cycling since 2009. I started in Rwanda, forming the National Cycling Team of Rwanda with my partner. Jock Boyer had been on the ground since 2007. I clearly remember asking him early on why…

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Tour du Benin 2023

May 18, 2023

Results and Reflections on the Race and the National Team The Tour du Benin, May 2 – 7th, the second year as UCI 2.2, highlighted some of the best talent on the African continent and the power of ownership. The…

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The Remarkable Journey of Eyeru

March 8, 2023

September 19, 2021 – Facebook message with Eyeru Eyeru and Team Africa Rising have been intertwined since Eyeru was a teenager in Ethiopia. During one of our visits to Ethiopia in 2014/15, this young woman burst onto our radar as…

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Tour du Rwanda 2023’s Highlights

February 28, 2023

This year’s Tour du Rwanda proved to be an edge-of-your-seat event with multiple Stage winners and General Classification holders. As with all UCI stage races fought to the brutal last hundreds of meters, there is always a melancholic sadness the…

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Tour of Rwanda: Rise of Eric Muhoza

February 21, 2023

After two days of massive sprint finishes at the Tour of Rwanda, today’s Stage 3 was primed to be the stage to shake up the General Classification and showcase the talent that makes the Tour of Rwanda one of the…

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ProTouch Announcement

ProTouch Folds: Impact on African Cycling

November 18, 2022

This week ProTouch, a South African-based UCI Continental team, announced it was folding after a four-year run. This announcement comes on the heels of the potential exit of two other African-based Continental teams, Benediction Ignite and May Stars, both out…

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Oliver Working at Edge Cycling

The Kid Who Hid and Thrives Today — Rwandan Oliver Tugirimana

November 10, 2022

“What are you doing under that table?” Jock asked the young, visibly afraid Rwandan adolescent. It was 2014, and Team Africa Rising had just moved into the abandoned compound on the road to Kinigi in the northern area of Musanze.…

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