Nyerere Cycling Tour launched as Vodacom unveils Coastal Classic race

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's flagship cycling event has entered a new chapter after Vodacom Tanzania and the Cycling Federation of Tanzania (CHABATA) officially renamed the Twende Butiama Tour as the Nyerere Cycling Tour and unveiled the Vodacom Coastal Classic, a 109-kilometre race aimed at positioning the country as a major cycling destination in Africa.

The announcement, made in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, marks a significant milestone for a tour that has combined sport with social impact since its inception in 2016.

Organisers said the rebranding reflects the event's enduring mission of honouring the legacy of the nation's founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, while creating a platform capable of attracting elite cyclists from across Africa and beyond.

The Nyerere Cycling Tour has grown into one of Tanzania's leading sports-for-development initiatives, supporting access to quality education by improving school infrastructure, constructing sanitation facilities and providing accessibility devices for children with disabilities.

According to the organisers, the initiative has reached more than 107 schools and benefited over 75,000 students, many of whom now study in improved and accessible learning environments.

Vodacom Foundation joined the initiative four years ago, helping expand the event's reach and attracting increasing participation from local, regional and international cyclists.

This year's edition of the Nyerere Cycling Tour will take place from October 5 to 14, with cyclists riding from Bagamoyo to Butiama.

As part of efforts to elevate competitive cycling in Tanzania, Vodacom also announced the launch of the Vodacom Coastal Classic, a 109-kilometre race that will be held annually on the first Sunday of October.

The inaugural edition is scheduled for October 4, one day before the start of the Nyerere Cycling Tour, and is expected to attract more than 400 cyclists from Tanzania and abroad.

The race will start in Dar es Salaam, head north to Makurunge in Pwani Region before finishing at the historic Old Boma in Bagamoyo.

Speaking during the launch, Vodacom Tanzania Business Director Nguvu Kamando said the company's ambition is to nurture local cycling talent and provide athletes with opportunities to compete at the highest level.

"We want to grow the sport. Every day we see cyclists on our roads, both professional and non-professional. There is no reason why talented riders from Mwanza, Shinyanga or any other part of the country cannot compete successfully here at home and on the international stage. What they need is the right equipment, proper training and opportunities to compete," he said.

Kamando said the Vodacom Coastal Classic is intended to inspire more Tanzanians to take up competitive cycling while raising the country's profile on the international sporting calendar.

Nyerere Cycling Tour founder Gabriel Landa said the event has always represented more than a sporting challenge.

"The Nyerere Cycling Tour has always been about more than cycling. It is about carrying forward Mwalimu Nyerere's vision of dignity and opportunity for every Tanzanian. Renaming the tour in his honour, while introducing a world-class race like the Vodacom Coastal Classic, marks the beginning of a new chapter," he said.

He added that the organisers are committed to building a platform that develops Tanzanian cycling talent while attracting international competitors and visitors to the country.

Organisers believe the combination of the Nyerere Cycling Tour and the Vodacom Coastal Classic will strengthen Tanzania's position as a regional cycling hub while promoting sports tourism, youth development and community empowerment through cycling.