Participants from Rwanda will cycle for charity and donate to the charity:

We are the Adrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy and proud educators of young cyclists in Rwanda. Adrien was the first Rwandan professional cyclist and is now willing to help the youngsters in his country to give them the opportunity he was given, like riding at the Olympics in 2012. Therefore he started the Academy and over the last six years, we have helped dozens of kids to enjoy and perform in cycling at every level.  

In 2012 Adrien Niyonshuti became the first Rwandan Cyclist to qualify and compete for his country in the Olympic Games. Adrien’s story captured the hearts of Rwandans at home and abroad as a symbol of pride and hope for a new Rwanda.

His personal story was magnified by the fact he had lost 60 of his family members including six of his brothers in the 1994 genocide. His journey, along with his teammates from Team Rwanda, into the world of professional cycling, was documented in the award-winning 2012 documentary Rising From Ashes.

Soon after the 2012 London Olympic Games Adrien immediately felt he wanted to offer the chance for young people in his country to experience the power of cycling. He tried to instill hope and values to the next generations.

The Academy idea was born, and the first location chosen was Adrien's hometown of Rwamagana. Along with support from the Rwandan Cycling Federation, Team Rwanda, and the Rising from Ashes Foundation the academy officially launched in August 2013.