A Rwandan on the Tour de France by 2040? “It is possible” according to the coach of the national cycling team

The world cycling championships are currently taking place in Rwanda. A first in Africa. Even if Eritrea is still the flagship nation of the discipline, the Rwandan cyclists are constantly progressing welcomes the coach of the national team, the French David Louvet.

What African runner will succeed the Eritrean Biniam Girmay, the first to win a stage on a large tour (on the Tour of Italy in 2022 then three times on the Tour de France in 2024)? He may be from Rwanda, theater of the World Road Championships (September 21-28) in Kigali. Since November 2022, a Frenchman, David Louvet, has taken the destinies of the national team. And it highlights the immense potential of Rwanda. “People who would make good runners, we meet at all crossroads”, he explains. He confided in Radio France.

Franceinfo: How did you become coach of Rwanda in 2022?

David Louvet: The president of the Rwandan Cycling Federation of the time wanted to have a European coach. He discussed this possibility with the president of the French Cycling Federation, Michel Coelho, who expressed it in the National Technical Department. I was offered the job and I said to myself: why not? I needed a new challenge and I found it rather interesting with the prospect of the Olympic Games.

How was your arrival?

It did not start in the best conditions because the day I set foot in Kigali, Rwandan federal officials all resigned! So the first three months are a bit complicated for me. And then, as I went along, I found my place. I also had the chance to be supported by my assistant Félix Sempoma who welcomed me. We were able to work properly and set up things that work.

Were you able to quickly benefit from means?

Not especially, in fact, because the people who assured the interim discovered everything. It was not really experts, so it was a bit complicated. Having budgets, going in the race … Everything was a permanent fight. Fortunately, the ministry understood my expectations and helped me a lot in my task.

Does the development of cycling in Rwanda become a priority?

Yes. Cycling in Rwanda is a bit like the Marathon for Kenyans. Here, the culture of bicycle is omnipresent, in Rwanda as in Eritrea. It is national sport. It runs every weekend and there is something for everyone, from an early age. With the world championships that are organized here, it was necessary to put the means to respond present and not be ridiculous. And relaunch the dynamics of Rwandan cycling which had its hours of glory but which was in a drop -down slope compared to certain African nations such as Eritrea. I think we are putting the cursors in the right direction. But today, they are missing are competitions. When my runners start, they have only three races in the legs from the Tour du Rwanda. This is not enough to be at the level, even if they still manage to be in the time on the time trial. To overcome the lack of competition, it was necessary to do internships with hours and hours of bicycle. They really worked with rigor and fairly important charges. This is where we see that Rwandan runners are sacred combatants and that they have extraordinary physiological and physical predispositions.

“In Rwanda, at all crossroads, we meet lots of people who could make good cyclists.”

David Louvet

in franceinfo

Is the talent there?

I have memories of people by bike, tapping, jeans and shirts, who follow the national team in a pass, to the summit. Sometimes I have to ask the runners to speed up to distance them because it can be dangerous. But in some cases, we take a phone number if we notice a potential. My assistant Félix Sempoma recruited a lot of taxi-bikes like Eric Manizabayo (standard bearer of the Rwandan delegation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games). They are really strong. Afterwards, they must progress in the position on the bicycle. By transporting people or charges, they tend to bend their backs a little at the level of the lumbar. So, you have to rework all of this, but it's not easy.

Fear that the craze falls after the world championships ?

After each big goal, there is always a moment of release. I hope it will not last long. I would like that, in the process, there is a race like the African championship. That there is an inheritance and that we can take advantage of all the training made in order to glean titles and medals.

Do you hope that some runners are spotted to join professional structures in Europe for example?

It's part of my work. If I train runners here, it's not for them to stay in Rwanda. I have targeted runners and I think there are runners who will not go unnoticed. I try to give a little boost because I have young people who have interesting profiles. It would be a shame to leave them here. Afterwards, it can be afraid of integrating an African into his team. You have to put things in place to be sure that he does not want to come back after two months. Sometimes there is the language barrier. I see it myself when I am in the car to give instructions. If I have not Félix with me, it is sometimes complicated, especially in key moments. And then there is the eternal concern for visas that are never easy to have. Because at the cycling level, there is no problem. They learn quickly.

What about the equipment?

Thanks to the world championships, there are a lot of endowments. For the national team, brands supported me. We had preferential prices on time trial bikes but especially on road bikes. Today, I have 32 new bikes that will stay after my departure. The problem is the maintenance and lack of spare parts. These machines are like Formula 1: it's high technology. Acquiring spare parts here for these bikes is not easy and it is expensive.

Can we imagine a Rwandan one day win the Tour de France?

With their climber profile, when I see the progress made in the space of a week on time, I tell myself that nothing is impossible. Afterwards, winning a lap in less than ten years, it will be complicated. On the other hand, seeing a Rwandan participate in the Tour de France in less than fifteen years is possible. And why not integrate a World Tour team like Biniam Girmay. They have nothing to envy to the runners of Eritrea who remains the flagship nation in Africa.

Are you rather optimistic for the future?

I would not want to be left my runners for too long without activity, without competition. Because they are high -level athletes. They need races because by doing only training, you enter a routine and it is not interesting.