Today: Stage Three

Kigali-Musanze (102,7km)

Tuesday: Stage 2

Kigali-Huye (120km)

1. Emile Bintunimana             3h02’ 18’’

2. Liponne Julien                  3h02’18’’

3. Abraham Ruhumuriza 3h02’18’’

4. Joseph Areruya                  3h02’36’’

5. Gasore Gategeka                3h02’36’’

Other Rwandans:

JB Nsengimana                           3h02’42’’

Camera Hakuzimana       3h02’42’’

Joseph Biziyaremye                  3h02’42’’

Ndayisenga Valens                 3h02’42’’

Nathan Byukusenge               3h02’42’’

Bonavanture Uwizeyimana      3h02’42’’

Jeremie Karegeye                     3h02’42’’

Patrick Byukusenge                  3h02’42’’

Hadi Janvier                                  3h02’42’

Jean Claude Uwizeye              3h02’42’

General Classification

1. JB Nsengimana                  Team Karisimbi (05h56’48’’)

2. E. Bintunimana                  Team Muhabura (05h56’50’’)

3. V. Ndayisenga                   Team Karisimbi (05h56’55’’)

4. Julien Liponne                  Haute Savoie /Rhones-Alpes (05h56’59’’)

5. J. Biziyaremye                  Team Akagera (05h57’00’’)

6. Debesay Mekseb               Bike Aid (05h57’00’’)

Team Rwanda Muhabura rider Emile Bintunimana won Stage 2 of the Tour du Rwanda from Kigali to Huye, covering a total distance of 120km in 3h 2’18’’ with Team Rwanda Karisimbi’s Jean Bosco Nsengimana retaining the yellow jersey.

Bintunimana, 24, made a breakaway from Nyanza and never looked back; he was followed by Frenchman Julien Liponne, riding for Haute Savoie/Phone Alpe team in 3h02’18’. There were four Rwandan riders in the top five.

Team Rwanda Akagera’s 36-year old Abraham Ruhumuriza came in third position in 3h02’18’’ ahead of his teammate Joseph Areruya, who finished the stage in fourth clocking 3h02’36’’ while Gasore Gategeka of Team Rwanda Muhabura came in fifth in 3h02’36’’.

After his stage win, his first in Tour du Rwanda, Bintunimana said every Team Rwanda rider is capable of winning a stage and that the Rwandan riders will continue to fight to keep the yellow jersey.

"We have a good strategy, we want to win every stage and we will do our best to do so; however, the bigger aim is to protect the man in the yellow jersey, Nsengimana” he noted.

Three Rwandans continue to lead in general classification. Nsengimana continues to lead in the general classification with 05h56’48’’, followed by Bintunimana (05h56’50’’) while last year’s winner, Valens Ndayisenga of Team Rwanda Karisimbi, is in third position with 05h56’55’’.

Frenchman Liponne is in fourth place with time of 05h56’59’’, Rwandan Joseph Biziyaremye is in fifth (05h57’00’’), while Eritrean Mekseb Debesay of Bike Aid, who won stage one, from Nyagatare to Rwamagana on Monday, is 6th with 05h57’00’’.

"I thank my teammates because without them I would not be wearing the yellow jersey, so let’s keep up the spirit and I am sure we will win this Tour du Rwanda,” Nsengimana told Times Sport.

Kenya national team rider Suleiman Kangangi took the best climber jersey, while Nsengimana retained the best Rwandan rider, best African rider and best young rider jersey.

On Wednesday, stage three sees the riders racing from Kicukiro in the City of Kigali to Musanze District, a total distance of 102.7kilometers.