Eric Nkundabera, Xaverine Nirere  win Heroes Cycling Cup 2025

By The Inspirer.

Nkundabera Eric of Team Rwanda in the men’s category and Nirere Xaverine of Team Amani in the women’s category won the “Heroes Cycling Cup” race held on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

This race, held for the fifth time, was launched by the Director General of the National Heroes, Medals, and Honours Agency (CHENO), Ngarambe François.

It attracted many athletes from teams across Rwanda as well as members of the UCI team that will compete in the 2025 Tour du Rwanda.

The 136-kilometer race started and finished at the BK Arena after passing through various parts of the Gasabo District. Nkundabera Eric from Team Rwanda won the race with a time of 3 hours, 31 minutes, and 53 seconds, followed closely by Gahemba Barnabé from Java-InovoTec, who also finished in 3 hours, 31 minutes, and 53 seconds.

In the women’s race, Nirere Xaverine of Team Amani claimed her third consecutive victory, completing the 102-kilometer race in 2 hours, 57 minutes, and 58 seconds. She was followed by Mwamikazi Djazil, who finished in 3 hours, 1 minute, and 13 seconds.

Tuyipfukamire Alphodis from Benediction Club won the junior men’s race, completing the 102-kilometer course in 2 hours, 48 minutes, and 10 seconds, followed by Byusa Pacific of Les Amis Sportifs, who finished in the same time.

In the cadet women’s race, Masengesho Yvonne of Ndabaga Women Team won the 68-kilometer race in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 52 seconds, followed by Irasetsa Amina of Bike for Future CT, who finished in 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 28 seconds.

Last year, the 2024 race was won by Manizabayo Eric ‘Karadiyo’ from Benediction Club in the men’s category and Nirere Xaverine from Team Amani in the women’s category.