Nathan Byukusenge

Nathan Byukusenge (born 8 August 1980) is a Rwandan former professional road cyclist and cross-country mountain biker. His younger brother Patrick Byukusenge is also a cyclist.

Career Born in Gihara in the Southern Province, Byukusenge is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. At the age of 14, he managed to escape and remained hidden for several weeks in a forest. A few years later, he became a “taxi-cyclist”, transporting his clients for hours around the capital city of Kigali.

He started competing in 2003 or 2004. In 2007, he joined the first Rwandan cycling team, and quickly became one of the best cyclists in the country, with high results at races including the Tour du Rwanda and the Rwandan National Road Race Championships. After considering ending his career in 2014, he decided to continue competing, in both mountain biking and road cycling. In 2015, he finished eighth in the Tour du Rwanda and ninth in the Tour du Cameroun. The same year, he became the first Rwandan cyclist to compete in the cross-country event at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, where he finished 92nd. In August 2016, he competed in the cross-country event at the 2016 Summer Olympics. After this, he chose to officially end his career.

Major results

2007 3rd Overall Tour du Rwanda 2008 2nd Overall Tour du Rwanda 2010 9th Overall Tour du Cameroun 2011 2nd Road race, National Road Championships 4th Overall Tour du Rwanda 6th Team time trial, African Road Championships 2012 2nd Road race, National Road Championships 6th Overall Kwita Izina Cycling Tour 2013 3rd Road race, National Road Championships 2015 8th Overall Tour du Rwanda 9th Overall Tour du Cameroun