Un bilan positif au Tour du Rwanda pour le LowestRates de Gatineau
PUBLIÉ LE DIMANCHE 20 NOVEMBRE 2016
L’équipe cycliste gatinoise peut se targuer d’avoir signé deux victoires d’étapes et d’avoir placé trois coureurs parmi les vingts premières places.
Au classement général final, Timothy Rugg termine la compétition au 11e rang, Brett Wachtendorf en 16e position et Edward Greene à la 19e place.
Source: http://ici.radio-canada.ca/breve/74910/bilan-positif-tour-rwanda-lowestrates
Gatineau-based team signs up with Italian cycling clothing outfit for two years
December 7th, 2016 by Rob Sturney | Posted in News, Spotlight
Canadian road cycling team LowestRates.ca and Italian cycling clothing company Biemme America announced a two year partnership on Wednesday. All members of the Gatineau-based LowestRates, which has taken on the cause of promoting Rwandan cycling, will wear Biemme gear starting next season.
Biemme also outfits American Continental squad Lupus Racing Team. The North American distributor of the high-end cycling clothing maker is Logica Sport Inc.
On Wednesday Logica’s Leo Incollingo said, “We have followed this team from the start and have been extremely impressed with the dedication to always become a better team on and off the bike. Being a young and dynamic Canadian team, we feel they are the right fit to represent our brand nationwide.”
In November LowestRates.ca and Canadian Guillaume Boivin’s Cycling Academy Team raced the 8th Tour of Rwanda, an event with an astonishing turnout of spectators. Boivin took Stage 1 while LowestRates.ca’s American Timothy Rugg prevailed in the prologue and Stage 3. Rwandan Valens Ndayisenga of Dimension Data for Qhubeka became the first rider to win the Tour of Rwanda twice.
BIEMME AMERICA SINGS TWO-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH LOWESTRATES.CA CYCLING TEAM
Press Release
Gatineau, December 7th, 2016
Biemme America and LowestRates.ca Cycling Team are proud to announce a new partnership for the next two years. The LowestRates.ca Cycling Team will train and race in the full range of Biemme gear, including jerseys, shorts, and other outerwear pieces and accessories. Riders and staff will also be sporting Biemme gear off the bike for 2017 and 2018.
“We have followed this team from the start and have been extremely impressed with the dedication to always become a better team on and off the bike. Being a young and dynamic Canadian team, we feel they are the right fit to represent our brand nationwide.” Leo Incollingo – Logica Sport Inc.
“With over 35 years of experience in producing high quality and innovative clothing, Biemme has established itself as a leader within the international cycling industry. We are proud to have a major brand like Biemme identify the marketing potential in our team. The two year contract definitely shows the great confidence they have in our program.” Frédérick Gates – Director / Founder
Biemme is an Italian based manufacturer of high-performance cycling clothing, and is distributed in Canada and the USA through Logica Sport Inc.
“There is no doubt that the Lowestrates.ca Cycling Team will be wearing Biemme’s Race Pro kits this upcoming season. The team will also wear our newest Jampa II, waterproof, windproof and lightweight jacket. Behind the scenes, they will be testing our newest patented innovation that we will launch in our 2018 collection.” Leo Incollingo – Logica Sport Inc.
LowestRates.ca Cycling Team riders and staff are excited by the prospect of attending races in some of the best custom apparel available.
“I am very excited about the partnership we’ve signed with Biemme. With the intention of graduating into a Continental Pro Team in 2018, the agreement is definitely a big piece of the groundwork in building towards that objective.” Frédérick Gates – Director / Founder
ABOUT LOGICA SPORT INC.
Logica Sport began in 1997 as a distributor of soccer shoes, balls, and all other soccer accessories. As the company increased visibility and strength as a distributor continued to grow over the years, it allowed them to expand their business focus in specialization of sports product distribution, to include another sport such as cycling. Acquiring Biemme Sport , known for its state of the art sublimation articles in soccer as well as its high-end cycling apparel, allowed Logica Sport to put its mark on the map of Canadian sports specialist distributors.
ABOUT BIEMME
Biemme was founded in Italy in 1978 following the entrepreneurial idea of Maurizio Bertinato. In its 38 year history Biemme has been an innovative and expanding leader in the implementation of new and improved concepts and ideas that raise the bar in performance, comfort and durability. Biemme offers top of the line breathable and flexible fabrics such as Coolmax®, Lycra and Jacquard to help athletes’ performance during their physical activity. It has been adapted for different climates and body types. An internal laboratory studies and projects the garments, develops and finally tests them directly on athletes of various levels.
ABOUT LOWESTRATES.CA CYCLING TEAM
Founded by Frédérick Gates, a Gatineau cycling enthusiast and visionary. The team’s identity has been evolving over the past two seasons, while achieving impressive success both on and off the bike. The LowestRates.ca Cycling Team has distinguished itself in UCI sanctioned races in Europe, Africa, United-States and in Canada over the last year. Aside from racing, the team has committed itself to raising awareness and contribute to the development of cycling in Rwanda.
UN SPRINTER QUÉBÉCOIS AU PAYS DES MILLE COLLINES
SIMON DROUIN – LA PRESSE
Guillaume Boivin prenait une bière avec des amis quand le directeur de son équipe l’a joint : une place vient de se libérer pour le Tour du Rwanda, ça te tente ? Le cycliste montréalais a refusé avant de se raviser 15 minutes plus tard. Si sa femme pouvait l’accompagner, il était partant.
Deux semaines plus tard, Boivin est à Kigali, en train de vivre l’une des aventures les plus déroutantes de sa vie.
« Je suis arrivé directement de ma saison morte, a-t-il raconté. Je n’ai pas trop roulé depuis les championnats du monde. Je suis ici un peu plus pour le plaisir et l’expérience de venir au Rwanda. C’est une occasion qui ne passera pas souvent. »
Tant qu’à y être, autant tenter sa chance. Après deux heures de course, Boivin a flairé le bon coup pour remporter hier la première étape jugée à Ngoma, à l’est, près de la frontière avec la Tanzanie. Malgré la profondeur modeste du peloton, l’ancien champion canadien en a bavé avant de s’imposer au sprint devant deux rivaux érythréens.
« Honnêtement, l’étape a été dure. Ça roulait fort. Je suis surpris par le niveau. J’ai un peu de puissance, mais je suis à mon poids d’entre-saison. J’étais cuit à la fin. » — Guillaume Boivin
Quatrième du prologue dimanche, Boivin pointe à une seconde du maillot jaune, le Rwandais Joseph Areruya, favori pour l’emporter à l’issue des sept étapes.
PAS D’ILLUSIONS
Représentant de l’équipe israélienne Cycling Academy, Boivin ne se fait pas d’illusions. Au pays des mille collines, un sprinter comme lui n’a aucune chance. D’autant qu’à part quelques jours avec sa femme Catherine dans le nord-est des États-Unis, il n’a pratiquement pas roulé depuis sa participation aux Mondiaux au Qatar, le 16 octobre. À cela, il faut ajouter les effets de l’altitude.
« Je vais manger mes bas un peu cette semaine ! Il n’y a pas un mètre de plat ici. On ira jusqu’à 2600 mètres, et il y a une étape de 140 kilomètres avec 4000 mètres de dénivelé. C’est du stock. » — Guillaume Boivin
Pour une reprise d’entraînement, Boivin ne pouvait rêver mieux. Mais il est là surtout pour la découverte. Avant le tour, il a visité avec des coéquipiers le musée du génocide de 1994 et son sanctuaire. Pendant l’étape d’hier, sa femme s’est rendue dans un orphelinat avec d’autres invités de l’équipe.
« Je ne suis évidemment pas un expert, mais j’en sais maintenant plus sur ce qui s’est passé, a témoigné l’athlète de 27 ans. C’est quand même beau de voir que les gens ont l’air heureux. J’aimerais pouvoir en parler plus sérieusement avec des locaux, mais c’est délicat. C’est tellement récent encore. »
Disputé de 1988 à 1990 et de 2001 à 2008, le Tour du Rwanda a pris de l’élan en 2009 en recevant une sanction de l’Union cycliste internationale (2.2, quatrième catégorie). L’Érythréen Daniel Teklehaimanot, porteur du maillot à pois au Tour de France 2015, l’a emporté en 2010.
Des centaines de milliers de spectateurs suivent la course sur le bord des routes. « C’est une vraie blague, il y a plus de monde qu’au Tour de France, s’est étonné Boivin. Dans les villages, ils sont cordés trois de large sur des kilomètres. C’est un party, un événement. » Qu’il est bien heureux de ne pas avoir manqué.
« UNE IMMENSE AFFAIRE ! »
Le documentaire Rising from Ashes (2012) raconte la création d’une équipe nationale rwandaise par l’ancien champion cycliste américain Jonathan Boyer et sa femme Kimberly Coats, qui voulaient donner de l’espoir à des orphelins du génocide. Le film a inspiré le Québécois Frédérick Gates, directeur sportif de LowestRates, une équipe amateur de Gatineau. À force de persuasion, ce dernier a obtenu une invitation pour le Tour du Rwanda. Avant son départ, l’équipe a amassé des accessoires et des vêtements de vélo neufs et usagés, qu’elle a distribués à divers clubs locaux dans la semaine précédant le Tour. Les coureurs ont notamment visité l’académie d’Adrien Niyonshuti, personnage principal de Rising from Ashes, aujourd’hui professionnel avec Dimension Data. « Adrien nous a montré son premier vieux vélo dont on parle dans le film, raconte Frédérick Gates. C’est maintenant un de ses jeunes qui roule dessus… Il y avait aussi une jeune fille de 14 ans qui porte ses vêtements à lui. Ç’a a été très émotif pour nous de voir à quel point ils ont besoin d’équipement. »
Hollywood n’a pas écrit le scénario, mais un membre de LowestRates, l’Américain Timothy Rugg, a remporté le prologue et revêtu le premier maillot de leader, dimanche. « Pour nous, c’est une immense affaire ! », s’exclame Frédérick Gates.
Source: http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/096905b4-3b77-433b-9e63-ff7bfd446614%7C_0.html
Le 13/11/2016 à 15:54:00 | Mis à jour le 13/11/2016 à 15:54:51
C’est un Américain de 30 ans, Timothy Rugg, courant pour l’équipe continentale canadienne Lowestrates, qui a remporté le prologue du Tour du Rwanda ce dimanche dans les rues de Kigali.
L’américain a ainsi privé les milliers de supporters, amassés autour de l’Amahoro Stadium, d’une nouvelle victoire rwandaise comme ce fut le cas ces trois dernières années lors de cette première journée de course, devenue l’un des événements majeurs du pays depuis la création de l’épreuve en 2009.
Le premier français 14e
Timothy Rugg a devancé de deux secondes l’un des grands espoirs érythréens, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, qui porte les couleurs de la réserve de l’équipe World Tour Dimension Data mais aussi de quatre secondes l’ancien coureur de Cannondale, le Canadien Guillaume Boivin. Le premier français, Sébastien Fournet-Fayard, pointe à la 14e place à onze secondes du vainqueur en attendant les routes montagneuses durant toute la semaine à venir.
P. L.G., à Kigali
November 13th, 2016 by Tyler D’Arcy – Canadian Cycling Magazine
American Timothy Rugg of Gatineau-based Team Lowestrates.ca wins 2016 Tour du Rwanda prologue – Guillaume Boivin finishes fourth.
On Sunday, the eighth edition of the Tour du Rwanda got underway in the nation’s capital city of Kigali. The UCI 2.2 stage race is the last event on the UCI Africa Tour calendar for 2016. In total, 73 riders from 17 teams took the start line at the Amahoro Stadium for the 3.3km prologue including three Canadians. Guillaume Boivin of the Cycling Academy, and Gatineau, Quebec-based Team Lowestrates.ca members Cameron McPhaden and Stephen Keeping are all in Rwanda to contest the seven stage race.
American Timothy Rugg of the Canadian Team Lowestrates.ca finished the day with the fastest time completing the course in four minutes on the dot. “I had high hopes of getting in the top ten today,” said Rugg. “The win is really a nice surprise.”
Three seconds behind Rugg was Amanuel Gebreigzabhier (Eritrea/Dimension Data for Quebeka) in second place with Joseph Areruya (Rwanda/Les Amis Sportif) in third. Boivin of the Cycling Academy had a strong start to the Tour du Rwanda as well, finishing only four seconds back of the winners time in fourth. Also four seconds behind the winner in fifth position was the winner of the 2015 edition, Jean Bosco Nsengemana of Rwanda riding for Stadelli- Bike Aid.
Monday, November 14th, 2016
KIGALI Rwanda (Xinhua) — American Timothy Rugg won the prologue as the eighth edition of Tour of Rwanda cycling race kicked off on Sunday at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali.
The rider of the Canadian Team LowestRates.ca left no chance for his rivals to win the 3.3 kilometer time trial.
He beat Eritrean Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier of South Africa’s Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka after finishing 4 miniutes 0.25 seconds.
“Winning my first victory in Africa has much value for me,” Rugg told journalists at a press conference,”I stayed there [Africa] when I was young in Uganda and Kenya but I had never raced African cycling race. I do not know if I will be able to keep my yellow jersey but the long climbs like those of Rwanda are roads that benefit me.”
Rwandan Joseph Areruya finished in third place after using 4 minutes, 3.95 seconds.
The favourites of this 8th edition in Sunday’s prologue Jean-Bosco Nsengimana of Germany-based UCI Continental Team Stradalli Bike Aid, finished in fifth position on 4 minutes, 4.32 seconds while Valens Ndayisenga of the Dimension Data for Qhubeka and 2014 champion finished in sixth position in 4 minutes, 5.57seconds.
The event has attracted 70 riders, featuring 15 teams.
After the prologue, competition will resume on Monday with Stage 1 where the riders will race on Kigali-Ngoma road, a distance of 96.4 kilometers.
The championship will conclude on November 20 after covering a distance of slightly more than 819 kilometers in seven stages.
1 – Timothy Rugg (USA – Team Lowestrates.ca)
2 – Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eritrea – Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
3 – Joseph Areruya (Rwanda – Les Amis Sportifs)
4 – Guillaume Boivin (Canada – Cycling Academy Team)
5 – Jean-Bosco Nsengimana (Rwanda – Stradalli-Bike Aid) .
Tour du Rwanda excites Rusizi residents
By: PETER KAMASA
PUBLISHED: November 18, 2016
Lowestrates.ca rider chats with young cycling fans in Rusizi on Wednesday. (Faustin Niyigena)
For the first time in the history of Tour du Rwanda, the race reached Rusizi District in the Southern Province causing excitement among the area residents.
On Wednesday the annual UCI Africa Tour category 2.2 road race reached the furthest part of the country following the addition of two new routes; Karongi-Rusizi (115.9km) and Rusizi-Huye (140.7km) through Rwanda’s vast tropical rainforest of Nyungwe.
The third stage on Wednesday was taken by prologue winner, Timothy Rugg, who rides for Canadian side Team Lowestrates.ca after clocking 3h18’16’’ and was followed by Les Amis Sportifs rider, Joseph Areruya by a difference of two seconds. Race leader, Valens Ndayisenga finished the stage in 7th place.
“This is a great moment for the people of Cyangugu (Rusizi), we have waited for so long to see the tour come to our place, finally we are happy to see the riders with our own eyes and not to wait to see them on TV, ” said Casmus Niringiyimana, a resident of Rusizi.
Another resident, Samuel Karamaga, noted, “We are very excited about the race, but more especially that our riders are doing well, and even when we can’t follow them in every stage, we are all behind them, personally, I’m happy to see Tour du Rwanda for the first time and I can’t wait for next year.”
The two routes; Karongi-Rusizi (115.9km) and Rusizi-Huye (140.7km) are characterized by hills, mountains, sharp corners where riders have to be careful so that they don’t crash. The riders have to brace for the rains and chilly weather as they go through Nyungwe forest.
Since becoming an International Cycling Union (UCI) certified race, Tour du Rwanda has produced a different winner each year.
In 2014, Ndayisenga became the first Rwandan rider to win the Tour since its inception on the UCI Africa calendar in 2009, and was dethroned by teammate, Nsengimana.
However, both riders have since joined professional teams—the former signing for South Africa’s Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka while the latter, joined Germany-based Stradalli-Bike Aid.
editorial@newtimes.co.rw
Riders rank Tour du Rwanda high on UCI-Africa Tour
By: PETER KAMASA
PUBLISHED: November 19, 2016
Some of the riders participating in Tour du Rwanda 2016
Some of the top riders competing in this year’s Tour du Rwanda have admitted that the international race is one of the most competitive on the UCI-Africa Tour, after La Tropicale Amissa Bongo.
The 8th edition of the annual category 2.2 road race started last Sunday and will reach its climax tomorrow after going through most parts of the country and covering a total distance of 819.1 kilometers.
The last two editions of the grueling week-long race saw Rwandan riders dominate the international event, but this year could be difficult as foreign riders want to make sure the title doesn’t stay in Rwanda for a third consecutive year.
The race overall leader, Valens Ndayisenga, winner of the 2014 edition, says; “Tour du Rwanda has become a really top level race and whoever wins deserves it because it’s a tough race and very hard to win.”
Tour du Rwanda, which became a UCI-Africa Tour race in 2009, is designed exclusively for cyclists competing at the international level, and it has had a different winner since the first edition.
Team Rwanda captain Nathan Byukusenge said; “Tour du Rwanda has helped Rwandan cycling to get known at the international level but it has also attracted many tourists to the country.”
“The race has moved from the initial local event to an international race, which is something good for our riders and our country,” added the 36-year-old rider, who plans to retire at the end of this year.
The prologue and stage four winner Timothy Rugg of Team LowestRates.ca from Canada says, “I am surprised by the atmosphere on the roads. There are so many people lining up the routes we pass.”
“There are many races in Europe or elsewhere, where there is no such organization and interest from the general public. I am proud to win here in Rwanda and able to win some stages,” noted the American, who is racing in Tour du Rwanda for the first time.
Canadian Guillaume Boivin, a former rider for Italian Cannondale Team before traveling to Israel this year for the Cycling Academy Cycling Team, went a step further than his rivals saying that Tour du Rwanda is probably the most competitive race on the continent.
editorial@newtimes.co.rw
85 riders for 2016 Tour du Rwanda
By: GEOFFREY ASIIMWE
PUBLISHED: November 08, 2016
A total of 85 cyclists from across the world will compete in next week’s 8th edition of the annual Tour du Rwanda, according to the organisers, the Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY).
The 2.2 UCI-Africa Tour road race gets underway on November 13 and will run through November 20, attracting 17 teams, each fielding five riders.
Rwanda will be represented by three teams namely; Team Rwanda, Benediction Club and Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana.
Among the 17 teams include eight African national teams, Team Rwanda, Team Kenya, Team Cameroon, Team South Africa, Team Ethiopia, Team Eritrea, Team Egypt and Team Algeria.
“Each of the 17 teams has confirmed their participation and the five cyclists they will be fielding, we expect a total of 85 riders this year,” FERWACY president Aimable Bayingana told Times Sport in a phone interview on Monday.
The race will also have four UCI continental teams, which include Dimension Data For Qhubeka (South-Africa), Kenyan Riders Downunder (Kenya), Cycling Academy Team (Israel), and Stradalli-Bike Aid (Germany).
In addition, five clubs from different countries have confirmed their participation. They include Rwanda’s Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana and Benediction Club (Rubavu district), as well as Team LowestRates.ca (Canada), Team Haute-Savoie Rhone-Alpes (France) and Team Furniture Decarte (Switzerland).
Canada’s LowestRates.ca were the first foreign team to arrive in Rwanda on Sunday.
The other teams are expected to arrive in the country to arrive this week.
Since 2009 when Tour du Rwanda became part of the UCI-Africa Tour, a total of 330 riders, representing 37 countries and five continents, have participated in the annual event.