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Mounana to Koulamoutou – 157km

Stage 2 results

Rafaa Chtioui (Skydive Dubai) – 4:30:38Yohann Gene (Europcar) – 4:30:38Tesfom Okubamariam (Eritrea) – 4:30:387. Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Rwanda) – 4:30:3816. Joseph Biziyaremye (Rwanda) – 4:30:3818. Bonaventure Uwizeyimana (Rwanda) – 4:30:3824. Patrick Byukusenge (Rwanda) – 4:30:3830. Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda) – 4:30:4970. Janvier Hadi (Rwanda) – 4:31:11

Bonaventure Uwizeyimana emerged the best in the under-23 category of stage 2 at the ongoing La Tropicale Amissa Bongo Tour in Gabon yesterday. Stage 2 covered 170km from Okondja to Franceville town.

The 22-year-old crossed the line in the leading peloton, microseconds behind winner Rafaa Chtioui of Skydive Dubai to seal fifth position in the general classification. Teammate Jean Bosco Nsengimana finished seventh, microseconds ahead of Uwizeyimana and Patrick Byukusenge.

Sprint master Janvier Hadi broke away from the peloton at the start of the race and led from the front till the 168km mark when the peloton led by Chtioui shot past him, crossing the line before the spent Rwandan rider.

Coach Felix Sempoma praised Hadi’s spirited display that earned him the best competitive rider jersey: "I am really happy for Hadi. He showed character even if he did not win the stage eventually.”

Rwanda was the best African team in stage 2 ahead of cycling power houses Algeria, Eritrea and Morocco.

Sempoma outlined Team Rwanda’s objectives for today’s stage 3 from Mounana to Koulamoutou – 157km, a stage he says Team Rwanda will be hoping to win. He told Times Sport that, "It is the last hilly stage so we have to use this to our advantage because this is what we are familiar with.”

editorial@newtimes.co.rw