Endurance rider Drikus Coetzee says he is ready to test himself against some of the world’s best ultra-distance cyclists at the upcoming Race Around Rwanda (RaR).

The RaR is a premier self-supported, single-stage ultra-endurance bikepacking event that covers approximately 1 000 kilometres and between 17 000 and 19 000 metres of elevation gain around Rwanda.

Starting and finishing in Kigali, the race showcases the “land of a thousand hills”, combining tarmac and gravel roads. It attracts elite ultra-endurance cyclists from across the globe and is scheduled to run over six days, with a 163-hour cut-off time, although winners typically complete the route in just over two days.

Speaking in a recent interview, Coetzee said he is looking forward to travelling to Rwanda on Thursday ahead of the race, which gets underway on Sunday.

“I will be up against Benedek Borsos, who was second at last year’s Atlas Mountain Race. King Ted (Alex McCormack), last year’s Atlas winner, will be there, as well as Ulrich Bartholmös from Germany, who finished second in the year I passed out at the Atlas Mountain Race,” he said.

Coetzee acknowledged that the competition will be tough but said he is excited about the challenge.

“I am looking forward to two nights of gruelling riding through the hills of Rwanda. This is going to be a muddy race with high terrain and plenty of climbing, but my preparation has been good. Rwanda is not called the land of a thousand hills for nothing,” he said.

The Namibian endurance rider added that he is hoping to secure his first international ultra-endurance victory.

“If everything goes well, I am aiming to win my first international ultra. The competition is strong, but I am really looking forward to it. When I return, I will go straight into preparations for the national road race, where I hope to challenge for the national title,” Coetzee said.

Other Namibian riders set to compete at this year’s Race Around Rwanda are Nabil Robiati and Pierre Lambert.

 – Nampa