Ted King Races in Rwanda
And they are off! More than 100 racers and bikepackers started a few hours ago in Kigali for the Race Around Rwanda, a self-supported bikepacking race in east Africa. The challenging course will have them climb into the clouds at elevations of almost 3,000 m (10,000 ft), before dropping back down into the East African Rift Valley. The tectonic plates of the African continent are moving apart here, effectively splitting the continent in two. Rwanda is often called the “Land of Thousand Hills,” and the course shows why: Over 1,000 km (620 miles), riders climb 17,000 meters (56,000 ft)!
This year’s race has attracted a star-studded field that includes Kenyan celebrities Vincent Chege—last year’s winner—and Kenneth Karaya, who has been on the podium twice. They’ll race against pro gravel racers like Laurens ten Dam, Thomas Dekker and Ted King, plus racers and bikepackers from all over the world—including a number of two-rider teams.
Climbing isn’t the only challenge facing the riders. Rwanda is in the tropics, and even though it’s usually dry in February, local rainfalls can turn roads into muddy quagmires. When the mountain tracks aren’t muddy, they can be extremely rocky—sturdy knobby tires are a must for this terrain.
Adding to the challenge, 55% of the race course is on asphalt. Speed on these sections will be essential for a high-placed finish. Rene Herse dual-purpose knobbies were developed for exactly this mix of conditions, and that’s what Ted is running on his bike. In addition to Ted, a fair number of competitors have chosen Rene Herse tires for this bikepacking race.
It’ll be an exciting race, both for the racers and for the rest of us who are following their dots and eagerly reading updates about their adventures.
More information:
- Tracker and race updates (Ted is No. 31)
Photo credits: Ted King, dotwatcher.cc
