Rwandan national team rides onto London's big screen

Rwandan national team rides onto London's big screen

The Rwandan national team knows more than others the healing power sport can bring, in a country recovering from the horrific suffering of the 1994 genocide.

Their journey to sporting success is told in a new documentary, Rising From Ashes. The film begins with the arrival of the team's coach Jonathan ‘Jock' Boyer, the first American to race in the Tour de France, and includes the story of Adrien Niyonshut, the country's first cyclist to compete in the Olympics.

Forest Whitaker is an executive producer and narrator on the film, which has its European premiere at the Odeon in Leicester Square on the May 9.

Cyclists bare all

For most people, the thought of jumping on a bike wearing nothing but a smile is their worst nightmare, but how about looking naked rather than actually being naked. That's the idea behind the Near Naked Kit, cycling's most startling uniform from the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign, that aims to reduce the stigma and embarrassment around male cancer.

As an ambassador for the charity, the former world champion track cyclist Rob Hayles will be donning his Naked Kit for a special ride later this month on the April 27. Would be nudists looking to join in must earn the right to wear the kit by taking on a cycling challenge in the name of near naked-ness.

London to Bruges for military personnel

An all female cycle troupe is preparing to ride the 230km from London to Bruges in just four days this summer, to raise money for military personnel who have been seriously injured while on duty. The group of around 100 women cyclists, hopes to raise £100,000 for charity STUBS when they set off on the August 30 with money going to Headley Court, a rehabilitation centre for ex-servicemen and women. The event already has the backing of multiple Paralympic champion Sarah Storey and London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Easter mayhem for Rapha Condor JLT

Despite snow, cancelled races and delays getting into France, Rapha Condor JLT still managed to have a busy Easter weekend. Half the team was scheduled to compete in the two-day Boucles d'Artois and almost missed the race after getting caught in delays at Folkestone's EuroTunnel terminal. Although they ended up on the wrong side of a split in the group on the first day of racing, Felix English managed an impressive eighth-place finish in the Easter Sunday's time trial stage.

The younger half of the team, who were scheduled to head to the Tour of the North, saw their plans similarly scattered when heavy snow in Northern Island led to the race being cancelled. Still the riders found action elsewhere; Will Stephenson finished sixth at the Easter Classic at the Castle Coombe circuit, Luke Mellor won his second race of 2013 in Shropshire and Hugh Carthy finished third in the fifth round of the CDNW series in Lancaster.

Cyclists help fight prostate cancer

Cyclists have been using their pedal power to raise £22,000 for charity to fight prostate cancer. Some 1700 cyclists turned up for the Wiggle No Excuses Sportive, which took in roads around Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire on March 16.

The event was the first of 52 to be organised around the country. Prostate Cancer research has been chosen as UK Cycling Events' charity for 2013, with £16,000 of the money raised going to help fight the disease and support those needing treatment. The rest of the money is going to a local cycling charity.

The Tour de France from the Alpe d'Huez

Since first appearing in the Tour de France in 1952, the Alpe d'Huez has attracted thousands of spectators each year, keen to watch as the cyclists climb the mountain's hairpin route. This July, in its 100th edition, the race will return to the mountain with riders set to climb the route not once but twice.

Hammer Sports are teaming with VIP SKI to offer fans the chance to watch the action of the race and take advantage of some cycling training and advice, during a seven-day holiday centered on the Stage 18 event. The package includes guided rides around the route and a prime viewing position for the race itself. For more information visit www.vip-chalets.com.

Velodrome photographs on show

Sir Chris Hoy, Mark Cavendish, Ed Clancy, Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish are just some of the famous faces captured in a new photography collection as they fly around the velodrome, competing at the National Cycling Centre.

Foto Velo Drome is a compilation of 67 images from cycling photographer Chris Keller-Jackson that features some of Britain's most famous track cycling faces. The collection is due to be unveiled at a special event at the NCC on the April 14 and will run until March next year.

Crowds turn out to welcome Red Bull Hill Chasers to Edinburgh

Around 3,000 spectators lined the streets of Edinburgh as the Scottish capital hosted the Red Bull Hill Chasers event for the first time on Sunday, with 22-year-old Liam Moynihan crowned ‘King of the Hill'.

The event, which has previously been held in Bristol, gave over 500 cycling enthusiasts across BMX, mountain bike and road cycling, the chance to take part in the challenge around the historic streets of the Scottish capital. Moynihan beat Jack Pullar into second and Gareth Montgomerie into third.

Paul wins Rollapaluza finale

After touring the UK looking for the fastest spinners in cycling, the fourth edition of the Rollapaluza National Series is preparing for it's grand finale in London. The event, which sees two cyclists battle on static rollers over a simulated distance at high speed, will see the winners of the regional heats compete to be crowned the King of Spin and Queen of Cadence on April 13. At a special Rollapaluza event on Good Friday, the man with the biggest thighs in cycling, Robert Forstemann tackled the challenge. But despite setting a time of 20.61 seconds (54.6mph), the German sprint champion was beaten by John Paul who reached a record time of 19.53 seconds (57.6mph).