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, and mechanics for the National team to continue their upward trajectory without our day-to-day operational support. This turnover was always TAR’s plan—to teach Rwandans how to own and operate a national team without support from Westerners.
Benin’s Beginning
But something serendipitous happened in March 2019. Team Africa Rising went to the African Continental Championships in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, and met the team from Benin. The then coach of Benin, Papoen Osho, saw TAR founder Jock Boyer at the event and begged him to talk to his ‘boss,’ Romuald Hazoumé, the newly elected Benin Cycling Federation President and passionate cyclist. The rest is history, albeit a bumpy one, filled with challenges and triumphs that shaped the future of cycling in Benin!
By late 2019, Team Africa Rising was in Benin, hosting a mechanic’s course with our former mechanic in Rwanda, Jamie Bissell. To say the Beninois were hungry for knowledge and skills was an understatement. Plans for further trips and support were minted during that trip, and TAR would be in Benin in 2020.
And then, COVID….
COVID Year
TAR was thrown into a mad scramble to rewrite a major grant for which the metrics were no longer attainable. Travel was impossible; therefore, training was only workable once TAR learned about the power of Zwift and Wahoo. Back to business. The new version of the existing grant provided for virtual trainers from Wahoo and Zwift memberships. Both companies initially supported our ideas, forever changing the scope of training and racing on the African continent.
Benin’s visionary President understood the plan from the beginning. While other countries shuttered their doors, Benin went all in and eventually received close to 40 Wahoo trainers throughout 2020. By early 2021, Benin Cycling was back in business with newly vaccinated TAR staff, and TAR was back in Benin. Along with Masaka Cycling Club, our initial inspiration, Benin embraced the new technology, and TAR and Benin began testing young cyclists nationwide.
The most significant change TAR made in Benin was focusing on women and junior boys and girls from the beginning. The U23/Elite men were never going to make it to the professional ranks. They could race until we could develop the next generation, but from the beginning, the focus was kids 13-16. Two of those kids were Georgette and Exodus.
A Vision for the UCI World Championships for Benin
TAR continued to ramp up its collaborative support through 2021 and into 2022/2023. In 2023, TAR talked to the Benin Cycling Federation about sending cyclists to the 2024 UCI World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. At that time, it was an enormous stretch, but TAR believed it could bridge it.
TAR’s work in Rwanda revealed areas where timelines could be shortened and development could happen more rapidly. First was securing Adrien Niyonshuti, the first Rwandan Olympic rider and still the only World Tour cyclist from Rwanda. He was living in Lucca, Italy, after retiring and spending years trying to develop his Academy in Rwanda. However, being thwarted by the Rwandan Cycling Federation at every turn, he closed his Academy. With his deep love for the sport, he was a perfect coach for the enthusiastic riders of Benin. Adrien has now been working in Benin for almost two years.
What Years of Planning for the World Champs Produces
Could Benin go to the World Championships? It took TAR seven years to send its first team of Rwandans to the 2014 UCI World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain. Valens Ndayisenga finished the event, landing in 120th place. For TAR and Rwanda – a win!
- In 2015, Valens and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana finished 97th and 125th on a fast course in Richmond, Virginia. Also in 2015, Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu became the first Rwandan woman to race and finish a UCI World Championships, finishing 87th. These achievements marked significant milestones in the history of Rwandan cycling, inspiring a new generation of cyclists.
- Two Rwandan U23 riders finished in Doha in 2016.
- No Rwandan finishers in 2017.
- One Men’s U23 finisher in 2018 – Joseph Areruya, and one men’s junior finisher, Jean Eric Habimana
- In 2019, Renus Uhirwe finished the men’s junior race and finished as a Men’s U23 in 2021. Samuel Niyonkuru, from Adrien’s Academy, completed the men’s junior race.
- In 2022, 2023, and 2024, Rwanda has had no finishers in any category.
Benin Going to the World Champs
The World Championships are a significant investment for developing African countries. The locations, flights, training, and equipment needed to race at that level are expensive. Federations also need to understand the importance of stretching cyclists to show them where they need to be while not completely demoralizing them with the level of competition.
This was a lengthy conversation TAR staff and FEBECY leadership had. In the end, Georgette, a 17-year-old girl; Exodus, also 17; and Hermionne, a 26-year-old Women’s Elite rider, were selected for Benin’s first foray into the UCI World Championships.
The critical component in the women’s preparation was spending six weeks in France at the Team Total Energie house training and racing with Coach Adrien. Exodus, still in the middle of school responsibilities, continued training on Zwift after school with longer weekend rides.
And then, Zurich….
Results and Hope for the Future!
On Thursday, Georgette and Exodus had their respective road races. It was about 55 degrees and raining, and the course was extremely technical—the worst possible conditions for young African cyclists. In addition to the weather, Adrien and Kimberly were faced with vehicle mechanical issues that resulted in Exodus being scooped up by the German team at the hotel to be taken to the start. This also caused Georgette to not get any feed support in her 73.6km race.
Despite the challenging conditions, Georgette made history by finishing in 110th place. She was a popsicle by the end of the race, but her determination never wavered. Exodus, unfortunately, was not as fortunate, possibly due to the chaotic start and the persistent poor weather conditions.
Hermionne, Benin’s Woman Elite cyclist, also didn’t finish but fought like an Amazon to stay in the race. The weather conditions during her race were even colder and rainier. It took TAR staff hours to warm her up. She remained in the race until the last lap, when many women were pulling up after the first lap.
Team Benin achieved its goal of having a rider finish the UCI World Championships in half the time it took TAR to achieve similar success with Rwanda. This is a testament to the progress and determination of Team Benin.
