.JPG) Niyonshuti at the 2014Four Days of Dunkirk | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Adrien Niyonshuti |
| Nickname | Manconsho[1] |
| Born | (1987-01-02)2 January 1987 (age 38)[2] Rwamagana, Eastern Province, Rwanda |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] |
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb; 10.7 st)[1] |
| Team information | |
| Current team | National Cycling Team of Benin |
| Disciplines |
|
| Role |
|
| Amateur team | |
| 2018 | Sampada |
| Professional teams | |
| 2007–2008 | Team Rwanda[2] |
| 2009–2017 | MTN Cycling[2][3] |
| Managerial team | |
| 2020– | Skol Adrien Cycling Academy[4] |
| Major wins | |
| One-day races and Classics | |
Adrien Niyonshuti (born 2 January 1987) is aRwandan former professionalbicycle racer, who rode professionally forTeam Dimension Data from 2009 to 2017.[5] In 2021, he worked as adirecteur sportif forUCI Continental teamSkol Adrien Cycling Academy.[6] In 2023, he will be leading the Benin National Cycling team to prepare for the UCI Championships to be held on the continent in 2025.
Although he survived, six of Niyonshuti's brothers were killed in theRwandan genocide of 1994.[1] Nilyonshuti began riding a bicycle given to him by his uncle as a teenager when he came to the attention of former professional cyclistJacques Boyer in 2006 during the first Wooden Bike Classic.[7]
Born inRwamagana, Eastern Province,Rwanda, Niyonshuti began amateur cycling at the age of sixteen. In 2006, he came to the attention of a former professional cyclist,Jacques Boyer. The firstAmerican cyclist to compete in theTour de France, Boyer was working in Rwanda on a project to import cargo bicycles for coffee farmers. Boyer also assumed the role of coach for the Rwandan national cycling team and recruited Niyonshuti to race.[8] Niyonshuti had good initial results in local races such as theTour of Rwanda, in which he finished in the top ten five years in a row and won in 2006 and 2008.[9]
In 2008, Niyonshuti attended the Africa Continental Centre Training Camp inSouth Africa, where he was offered a contract byDouglas Ryder, thedirecteur sportif of UCI Continental TeamMTN Cycling.[1][8] He started his first UCI European road race in August 2009 with his participation in theTour of Ireland, becoming the first Rwandan cyclist to ride in the European professionalpeloton.[8] Niyonshuti qualified to represent Rwanda in the cross-country mountain bike race during the2012 Summer Olympic Games inLondon.[10] He was also Rwanda's flagbearer at the opening ceremony.[11]
Niyonshuti competed for Rwanda again at the2016 Summer Olympics inRio de Janeiro. He did not finish themen's road race.[12] He was the flagbearer for Rwanda again during the opening ceremony.[13] In 2017, he was aiming to make his Grand Tour debut.[14]
After the 2012 London Olympic Games, Niyonshuti immediately felt he wanted to offer the chance for aspiring cyclists in his country to experience the power of cycling, instil hope and pass on its positive values to future generations. TheAdrien Niyonshuti Cycling Academy[15] idea was born and the first location chosen was his home town of Rwamagana. Along with support from Team Africa Rising and the Rising from Ashes Foundation, the academy was officially launched in August 2013.[citation needed] The Academy ran successfully until December 31, 2022, producing two professional gravel cyclists signed by Team Amani and Eric Muhoza, who was signed for the 2023 season byTeam BikeAid. Eric Muhoza is Niyonshuti's cousin.[citation needed] Niyonshuti closed his Academy at the end of 2022 to focus on his work developing African cyclists in Europe and as a consultant for the National Cycling Team ofBenin. Niyonshuti worked as the Directeur Sportif for Team Benin A at the 2022Tour du Benin.[citation needed]
On 14 July 2022, Niyonshuti was invited by theQhubeka Charity to take part in a high-profile promotional event at theTour de France. Qhubeka is the charity of the Tour and had planned an ascent of the iconicAlpe d'Huez on one of their single-speed Qhubeka bicycles.[citation needed] Niyonshuti knows the Qhubeka Charity well, having been part of a large distribution of their bicycles in 2012 and attending several distributions of Qhubeka bicycles to schoolchildren during his time on the MTN-Qhubeka/Dimension Data professional team.[citation needed]
Niyonshuti completed the ascent of the Alpe d'Huez in an impressive 1 hour 36 minutes, and members of the international media were waiting for him at the finish line. After interviews with leading TV, radio and print media journalists, several articles have appeared, including Cycling Tips[16] and Outdoor Online.[17]
OverallTour of Rwanda
Road race, National Road ChampionshipsRoad race, National Road ChampionshipsRoad race, National Road ChampionshipsTime trialTime trial, National Road Championships
Team time trial,African Road Championships
| Olympic Games | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Flagbearer for RwandaLondon 2012 Rio de Janeiro 2016 | Succeeded by |