DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — 6 August 2026, In a landmark moment for Tanzanian cycling, Vodacom Tanzania, in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of Tanzania (CHABATA), today announced the official renaming of the Twende Butiama Tour to the Nyerere Cycling Tour, alongside the launch of the Vodacom Coastal Classic, a competitive 109-kilometre cycling race set to put Tanzania on the international cycling calendar.
Since 2016, the tour has honored the enduring legacy of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere by championing equitable opportunities for all, through enhancing learning environments, constructing sanitation facilities, and providing accessibility devices so that every child has the opportunity to learn. To date, the tour has reached more than 107 schools and enriched the lives of over 75,000 students, who now have access to state-of-the-art, accessible classrooms.
Vodacom Foundation joined the tour four years ago, and in that time the event has grown four-fold, attracting local, regional, and international cyclists. This year’s edition will take place from 5 to 14 October 2026, riding from Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam.
To reflect its central mission, honoring Mwalimu Nyerere’s legacy, and to position the event for growth as an international cycling tour, the tour will from this year forward be officially known as the Nyerere Cycling Tour.
This year’s mission is simple: grow the sport and place Tanzania firmly on the international calendar of cycling events. In collaboration with CHABATA, Vodacom is launching its flagship sports asset, the Vodacom Coastal Classic, a competitive 109km race open to both male and female riders.
The race will start in Dar es Salaam, head north to Makurunge in Pwani Region, and finish at the historic Old Boma, Bagamoyo, completing the 109km route. The inaugural edition will be held on Sunday, 4 October 2026, one day ahead of the Nyerere Cycling Tour, and going forward Vodacom will host the race annually on the first Sunday of October. More than 400 participants from Tanzania and around the world are expected at the start line.
“We want to grow the sport,” said Nguvu Kamando, Vodacom Business Director of Vodacom Tanzania. “Every day we see cyclists on our roads, professional and non-professional alike. There is no reason why Abella from Mwanza cannot compete here in Tanzania and on global stages, or Saidi from Shinyanga. What they need is the right equipment and the right training. The Vodacom Coastal Classic is set to inspire and motivate Tanzanians to enter this space.”
Gabriel Landa, Founder of the Nyerere Cycling Tour, added: “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 honor, and pairing it with a world-class race like the Vodacom Coastal Classic, marks the beginning of a new chapter. We are building a platform where Tanzanian talent can rise and where the world will come to ride.”
Key Dates
– Vodacom Coastal Classic (109km race): Sunday, 4 October 2026 — Dar es Salaam to Makurunge, finishing at Old Boma, Bagamoyo
– Nyerere Cycling Tour: 5–14 October 2026, Bagamoyo to Butiama
About the Nyerere Cycling Tour
Formerly known as the Twende Butiama Tour, the Nyerere Cycling Tour honors the legacy of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere by promoting equitable access to education across Tanzania. Through the tour, more than 107 schools have been supported and over 75,000 students now benefit from improved, accessible learning environments.
