Road race results – 150km

1. Janvier Hadi (Rwa) 3:29:372. Reynard Butler (SA) 3:30:083. Adil Barbari (Alg) 3:30:08

Other Rwandans:

7. Joseph Aleluya 3:30:0816. Joseph Biziyaremye 3:30:0834. Valens Ndayisenga 3:39:2137. Camera Hakuzimana 3:30:1740. Jean Bosco Nsengimana 33:30:23

Team Rwanda’s cyclist Janvier Hadi clinched gold in 150Km men’s race yesterday after 12 laps of 12.5km at the ongoing All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

That made the 24-year-old the first Rwandan to win a gold medal at the All-Africa Games outside the Paralympic category since Mariciane Mukamurenzi in the women’s 10000m at the 1987 All-Africa Games in Nairobi.

Paralympian middle distance runner Cliff Hermas Muvunyi won gold in the men’s T46 category in the 800m of the Paralympic event at the 2011 edition in Maputo, Mozambique.

Hadi was in a group of eight in a breakaway peloton in the first lap with fellow country-man Joseph Biziyaremye against a strong field of continental elite riders like South Africa’s Hendrik Kruger.

Jean Claude Uwizeye, Camera Hakuzimana, Joseph Aleluya, Valens Ndayisenga, Jeremie Karegeya and Jean Bosco Nsengimana masterminded constant breakaways to disrupt the peloton in the early stages of the 12-lap circuit race as this put pressure on a strong field of Algerian, South African and Eritrean opponents.

Biziyaremye, who is the reigning national road race champion, was unlucky to suffer a puncture in the sixth lap leaving Hadi with Rwanda’s sole chance to earn a podium finish. He did not disappoint.

Captain Hadi, known as the ‘sprint master’, accelerated in the final lap to gain a one minute lead on the peloton, crossing the finish line in style to secure Rwanda’s first gold medal at the continental multi-sport event.

"I am extremely delighted with this achievement. We worked hard as a team and I thank my teammates who worked so hard. I decided to break away because I felt I had the strength to do so and I am glad I emerged winner,” said the excited Hadi.

Team Rwanda Cycling coach Felix Sempoma echoed Hadi’s thoughts. "We are very delighted with Hadi’s gold medal. We worked hard as a team to make sure that we secure a podium finish and I am very excited that we won.”

"We had earlier planned to hold back two riders who are good finishers so that the others can go all out and attack for breakaways but when we got into the race, we noticed Algeria and Eritrea were very interested in an early breakaway so we changed our strategy immediately and decided that Hadi would go upfront with the breakaway peloton,” Sempoma revealed.

Hadi put implement Sempoma’s instructions and maintained his presence in the peloton before going all out to finish at least a minute ahead of over 50 riders from 27 countries.

The 24-year old was also part of Rwanda’s team time trial side that won bronze on Thursday at the same competition.

Hadi was a bronze medallist in the men’s U-23 category at the 2013 Africa continental cycling championships in Egypt and has won the Tour du Rwanda prologue stage twice in 2013 and 2014.

He was crowned the Most Aggressive Rider at stage four of the 2014 Tour of Alberta in the USA last September while riding for Team Louis Garneau, after leading a sole breakaway for almost 150km.

On the local scene, Hadi won this year’s Race to Remember in May, from Kigali to Rwamagana, (101.5km), as well as the Race for Culture from Nyungwe to Nyanza (106km) in July. Both events are part of the Rwanda Cycling Cup.

Team Rwanda squad in Brazzaville

Janvier Hadi, Joseph Biziyaremye, Valens Ndayisenga, Jean Bosco Nsengimana, Jean Claude Uwizeye, Jeremie Karegeya, Camera Hakuzimana, Joseph Aleluya.

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