Tour du Rwanda: Soudal-QuickStep withdraw development team over safety concerns
Soudal-Quickstep pulls their development team from the tour due to security concerns Continuous conflict In the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The M23 rebel group almost occupied the Congolese city of Goma, the largest city in the eastern Congo Doctor and the border Rwanda.
The tour is scheduled to take place between February 23 and March 2, with some of its seven phases passing the Congo Doctor.
The competitive team plans to spend the night in Rubavu between more than six miles (10 kilometers) from Goma, between Phase III and Phase IV.
“We looked at the situation yesterday. It really worried us a little bit at the starting point and end of the risk area where our hotel is.” Tell the Belgian website Sporza.,,,,, External
“In the end, we decided not to send 20 people without the absolute guarantee that we could do this safely.”
Earlier this week Tour Du Rwanda organizers release statement,,,,, External Saying the game will go as planned, “riders, teams and supporters can ensure a safe and pleasant event.”
Rwanda will become the first African country to host a World Championship later this year, with the event scheduled to be held in Kigali from September 21 to 28.
The crow flew from Goma, with Kigali being 60 miles away, and the shortest journey between the two cities on the road is a 100-mile route through the western mountainous areas of West Rwanda.
UCI, the world governing body of cycling, said it has no plans to move the race away from Rwanda.
