The 2023 edition of the annual international mountain bike race, “Rwandan Epic,” gets underway in Kigali on Tuesday, October 31, with racers expected to give an explosive performance in some of the most challenging mountains and locations in this fun but competitive race.

The event brings together top athletes and well-trained amateurs from across the globe. This year’s edition will see mountain bike riders run from Kigali to Musanze and finally to Rubavu, covering 284km and about 4,000m of altitude.

The five-day international mountain bike race returns with not so many changes in location, starting from October 31 and running through November 4 from Kigali to Rubavu through Musanze and Nyabihu.

During the race, participants have the opportunity to explore Rwanda’s stunning landscapes as tourists after each stage.

This year’s edition will be played in distinct styles in different categories namely female, male, and mixed teams, with an additional out-of-competition category.

Simon De Schutter, one of the event organizers, said, “we always think about the riding and improve the game in Rwanda but we also want to show what the country has to offer.”

“We are expecting to witness such a great mix of technical trails, rocky descents, steep climbs and super-long, fast, flowing single-track,” he added.

The race includes stages in prologue, Cross-country Marathon (XCM), and modern Olympic racing (XCO) styles from Kigali, Northern and Western Provinces.