Israel Start-Up Nation pledge support for girls cycling team ahead of Tour du Rwanda

Israel Start-Up Nation
Israel Start-Up Nation will be the only WorldTeam at Tour du Rwanda (Image credit: Israel Start-Up Nation)

Israel Start-Up Nation have sent a five-rider team to the Tour du Rwanda and have kickstarted their trip by launching a new project under the banner of “Racing for Change”. The team initiative will see the squad pledge their support to a young girls' cycling team in the village of Bugasera, with kits, scholarships, and equipment provided as part of the project.

The squad is the only WorldTour team on the start list of the eight-day race but the event, now in its 13th season, has a huge amount of depth with Team Total Direct Energie, Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, and B&B Hotels p/b KTM all taking part. Before the racing began, Israel Start-Up Nation traveled to the village of Bugasera to publicize their support of equality and encourage more females into cycling.

“We have 'adopted' the girls’ cycling team, not only by supplying equipment but also by providing professional training,” the team said in a statement issued on Friday. “We will help the community center access the bikes that will enable students in the nearby school to start riding together and experience cycling.”

Daniel Benson

Daniel Benson was the Editor in Chief at Cyclingnews.com between 2008 and 2022. Based in the UK, he joined the Cyclingnews team in 2008 as the site's first UK-based Managing Editor. In that time, he reported on over a dozen editions of the Tour de France, several World Championships, the Tour Down Under, Spring Classics, and the London 2012 Olympic Games. With the help of the excellent editorial team, he ran the coverage on Cyclingnews and has interviewed leading figures in the sport including UCI Presidents and Tour de France winners.