The 2009 Tour of Ireland was Adrian Niyonshuti's first ever professional bike race and it's one he's unlikely to ever forget. The rain that fell in Cork on that final stage saw many - including Lance Armstrong - climb off their bikes but the then 22 year-old Rwandan toughed it out. Seven years on and he's set to represent his country in the Olympic road race.
A Rwandan cyclist who survived the 1994 genocide in his home country - but had 60 members of his extended family wiped out during a violent 100-day killing spree - will represent his nation in the Olympic road race in a little over one month.
Adrien Niyonshuti, a teammate and close friend of Irish professional Matt Brammeier (Dimension Data), was selected by virtue of his time-trial win in the national championships at the weekend as well as finishing runner-up in the road race.
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The 29 year-old raced his first ever UCI event in Ireland back in 2009 as part of the MTN-Energade team in the now defunct Tour of Ireland.
In doing so, he became the first ever Rwandan to ride professionally.
It was there where his shocking story emerged and since then he’s gone on to forge a successful career for himself, despite the odds being stacked against him.
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In 2012, he represented Rwanda in the cross-country mountain-bike event at the London Olympics.
As well as his prowess on the bike, a Cycling Academy bearing his name opened its doors in the same year with the aim of assisting aspiring young riders develop as cyclists.
And in recent years, the school has produced top riders, including Valens Ndayisenga, the Tour of Rwanda victor in 2014.
More recently, Niyonshuti teamed up with Brammeier where they launched an unwanted cycling kit donation appeal and that has been hugely well received.
It will be the first time Rwanda has qualified a rider for the road race.
Along with Niyonshuti, fellow Team Rwanda founder rider Nathan Byukusenge will race the mountain bike event.
