Click here for more photos.

Here is this morning in front of 90 accredited press agencies..and television crews from around the world... Lance asked Adrien to be with him at the start.. this was not a "posed" photo.. it was by Lance's request when he heard Adrien's story and what the MTN team is doing in African for African riders... Lance wants Adrien to succeed.

Today was not only Adrien's first day in a European Pro Tour race but also that of Rwanda and more than likely any other black African. He was there racing with the best of the world by merit and by a chance given to him by the MTN Energade team and Douglas Ryder. He had never in his life ridden 198 kms... let alone race them... and even less race them in a "Pro Tour" pack... on an incredibly difficult course at an incredibly fast pace...

He rode with the pack the whole race and finished with the pack ... an incredible accomplishment!!

This is just the beginning of what can be done with this team and what is awaiting African Cycling.

Thank you for all the support... this is an exciting beginning.