Results

1. Janvier Hadi (Team Rwanda) 3:07’:34”2. Fayçal Hamza (Vélo Club Sovac) 3:07’:34”3. Amanuel Gebreigzabhier (Team Eritrea) 3:07’:34”

Team Rwanda Captain Janvier Hadi won the Grand Prix de la Ville d’Oran in Algeria yesterday after clocking 3:07’:34” to become the first Rwandan rider to win a race in the North African country at the most gruesome event on the UCI Africa Tour.

The 24-year-old Hadi has achieved this landmark victory at his inaugural participation in the Grand Tour d’Algerie. Teammate Jean Bosco Nsengimana finished sixth while Bonaventure Uwizeyimana and Joseph Biziyaremye were 12th and 28th respectively in a remarkable performance for the Rwandan side.

Rwanda Cycling Federation (Ferwacy) president Aimable Bayingana told Times Sport that, "This is a very big achievement for Rwanda. It is the first time we are winning a race in Algeria. I am so proud of the riders because we are hoping that they get points to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. We hope that they continue with this confidence and win the upcoming races on the Grand Tour d’Algerie.”

The overwhelmed Bayingana further added that winning yesterday’s race is equivalent to winning the Tour du Rwanda as the yellow jersey winner earns 40 points.

Team Rwanda has been part of the leading peloton and the chasing one since the Grand Tour d’Algerie got underway with the Circuit International d’Alger last Friday but sprinting to the finish line has been a challenge.

However, according to head coach Jonathan ‘Jock’ Boyer, the Rwandan riders have been improving day by day and the American tactician believes that a lot more success will be achieved hereafter.

Meanwhile, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana was the third in the U-23 category at the Tour International d’Oraine that ended on Monday having amassed 9:41:00 in three stages, four minutes behind winner Adil Barbari from Groupement Sportif des Petrolier Algerie. Uwizeyimana finished sixth in the general classification.

Teammate Valens Ndayisenga was seventh in the U-23 category with 9:44:03 and was 21st in the general classification. Joseph Biziyaremye, Hadi, Jeremie Karegeya and Nsengimana were 14th, 15th, 30th and 48th respectively.