The elite cycling team steps back: “We won’t send people somewhere they won’t be safe.”

The Soudal Quick-Step cycling team has made the decision to withdraw from the upcoming Tour of Rwanda, citing safety concerns related to the ongoing conflict in neighboring Congo.

The team, which includes notable riders such as Jozef Cerný, made this announcement through team director Jurgen Foré in an interview with Sporza.The seven-stage race, which is set to take place from February 23 to March 2, has part of its route located near the border with Congo. The conflict, which began on January 26, has already resulted in the deaths of around 3,000 people and left nearly 2,900 others injured, prompting serious concerns about the safety of participants.

Foré explained that the team thoroughly assessed the situation, taking into account the locations of both the start and finish of the race, as well as the accommodations for the riders. “We evaluated everything yesterday. Both the start and finish points are in high-risk zones, and so is our hotel. That raised significant concerns for us. Ultimately, we couldn’t justify sending twenty people into a situation where we couldn’t guarantee their safety,” he said.

The decision underscores the importance of ensuring the well-being of athletes, as the safety of the team took priority over participating in the race. The Soudal Quick-Step team, known for its competitive edge and global presence in cycling, now joins other teams that have made similar decisions in light of the security issues in the region.