Today: Stage two

Kigali-Huye (120km)

Stage 1

1. Debesay Mektseb    Bike Aid – 2h50’ 14’’

2. Teshome Hagos Meron Eritrea- 2h50’14’’

3. Debretsion Aron       Eritrea 2h50’14’’

4. Joseph Biziyaremye                         2h50’14’’

5. Smith Willie                SA 2h50’14’’

6. Hida Abdallah            Morocco 2h 50’14’’

7. JB Nsengiyumva       2h 50’14’’

Other Rwandans:

Joseph Areruya              2h50’18’’

Emile Bintunimana       2h 50’ 18’’

Valens Ndayisenga       2h50’18’’

Jean Claude Uwizeye   2h50’18’’

Bonaventure Uwizeyimana 2h50’18’’

Patrick Byukusenge      2h50’18’’

Hategeka Gasore          2h50’18’’

Jeremie Karegeye         2h50’18’’

Camera Hakuzimana   2h50’18’’

Nathan Byukusenge     2h50’18’’

Hadi Janvier                    2h50’18’’

Ephrem Tuyishimire     2h50’18’’

General Classification

Jean Bosco Nsengimana 2h54’06’’

Valens Ndayisenga       2h54’13’’

Joseph Biziyaremye      2h54’18’’

Debesay Metseb           2h54’18’’

Bescond Jeremy             2h54’19’’

Eritrean Mekseb Debesay, riding for Bike Aid team, won stage one of this year’s Tour du Rwanda from Nyagatare to Rwamagana, a distance of 199.9km after clocking 2h54’06’’.

It is his third stage win after winning two stages last year - stage six (Huye-Kigali)  and Kigali-Ngoma. Team Rwanda Karisimbi’s Jean Bosco Nsengimana finished 7^th in 2h 50’14’’ to retain the Yellow Jersey following his win in the prologue on Sunday.

Debesay said, "I am happy to win this stage. I am prepared to win the Tour,” he said before adding "In 2014, I suffered many setbacks and I was not able to compete well. This year, I hope everything will be different.”

In the general classification, Nsengimana leads the race with a time of 2h54’06’’, defending champion Valens Ndayisenga is second with 2h54’13’’, followed by teammate Joseph Biziyaremye with 2h54’18’’ after 124.4 kilometers.

"We have a long way to go but we have to fight until the end. It is going be tough but we have to fight to keep the yellow jersey. We are strong enough to win back to back Tour du Rwanda,” the 22-year old Nsengimana told Times Sport.

Stage one winner Metseb is in fourth position with time of 2h54’18’’ while Frenchman Jeremy Bescond is in fifth position with 2h54’19’’.

Eritrean rider Amanuel was named best climber, while Nsengimana retained the best Rwandan rider jersey, best African rider and best young rider.

The race continues on Tuesday with the riders racing from Amahoro National Stadium to Huye District, covering a total distance of 120.3 kilometers.