Soudal Quick-Step withdraws, but Lotto does head to Tour of Rwanda near an active war zone

On February 23, the Tour du Rwanda will begin. This 2.1 African stage race usually doesn’t draw much attention, but this year is different. In neighboring Congo, a civil war has broken out, and Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict is far from peaceful. Additionally, fighting frequently takes place in the border regions—directly along the race route.

Meanwhile, a humanitarian crisis has unfolded in eastern Congo, the region bordering Rwanda. In late January, rebels from the M23 militia—reportedly backed by Rwanda—seized the major city of Goma, which sits right on the Rwandan border. Fighting between the rebels and the Congolese army has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and in recent days, the violence has escalated again. Despite the turmoil, race organizers insist the event will be safe.

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Finish in the Tour of Rwanda

Organization assures safety during race

"The situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is a conflict between the government and a Congolese rebel group," the race organization stated. "Recently, there has only been one incident where fighting directly affected those living on the Rwandan side of the border. All necessary measures have been taken to ensure this does not happen again."

"Life in Rubavu (Where five civilians were recently killed and a stage finishes) and throughout Rwanda continues as normal" The Tour du Rwanda organizers remain confident in the event’s safety despite recent violence. That is why the Tour du Rwanda can go ahead without any changes to the race schedule. Riders, teams, and fans can be assured of a safe and enjoyable event," the organization promises.

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Lotto does just want to travel to Rwanda 

Soudal Quick-Step withdraws, Lotto trusts the organizers' assurances

Despite these reassurances, Soudal Quick-Step has withdrawn from the race, citing security concerns. The Belgian team found the situation too risky. "Since Monday, we have been monitoring the advice from Foreign Affairs, and it raised several concerns—especially regarding the region near the Goma border," CEO Jurgen Foré told Sporza. "The start and finish in a high-risk area, where our hotel is also located, made us uneasy. In the end, we decided not to send 20 people there without an absolute guarantee that it could be done in a safe way."

Meanwhile, Lotto Cycling Team has opted to compete as planned in the African race. "I was there last year, and it was a very positive experience," sports director Kurt Van de Wouwer told Het Nieuwsblad. "Good roads, good organization, great weather—ideal racing conditions. And since the UCI has declared the event safe, we see no reason to withdraw. Quick-Step is also the only team pulling out."

Despite the confidence of the race organizers and some teams, it is concerning that stages 4, 5, and 6 pass through unstable regions. One stage even brings riders within just 10 kilometers of the conflict zone. "They have promised us that if the security situation worsens in certain areas, the stages will be rerouted," Van de Wouwer added.

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Ten Dam and Dekker in Rwanda

Ten Dam was in Rwanda for gravel race in recent weeks

As widely known, Rwanda is set to host the UCI Road World Cycling Championships later this year in Kigali, though the event has already sparked some controversy. However, the capital city is far from the conflict zone and is considered safe. Just last week, Laurens ten Dam rode through the country for a gravel race.

"Of course, I’m not naive—I know a lot is happening, but inside Rwanda, you don’t see any of it. Whether or not the World Championships should go ahead is a difficult debate. The people in Rwanda told me that the conflict has been going on for years. It’s not my place to judge that. We are athletes, and we focus on the sport," Ten Dam told Sporza at the time.

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