Tour du Rwanda defending champion Valens Ndayisenga has pulled out of this year’s tournament after suffering angina during the race from Musanze to Nyanza on Thursday.

Angina is a medical condition used for chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

Ndayisenga has returned to his training bases at the Africa Rising Cycling Center in Musanze following his withdrawal.

Team Kalisimbi Coach Felix Sempoma told this paper that while the 21 years old will not be able to defend his title he believes Team Rwanda will retain title.

Ndayisenga appeared to struggle in Ngororero as he tried to push to stay with the leading peloton. "It’s big blow for the team but we have other riders who will cover for him”, Sempoma said.

"He has received treatment and the doctors have treated him well and he is fine now. Our aim is to see him back in good conditions and now he is responding well. He was in bad mood on Thursday after race but he has recovered” he added.

Yesterday’s stage didn’t go well for Team Rwanda riders as none came in the top five, which was dominated by foreign riders; only defending champion Valens Ndayisenga made it inside the top ten.

He was still in race of his title for the general classification as he was on seventh position after clocked 12h58’50’’in distance of 512 and one minute and 30 seconds behind leader of the race Jean Bosco Nsengimana.

The race remaining with 54 riders while it was started with 14 teams after Algeria pulled out at the last minutes.

Other riders who have abandoned the race include Ihlenfeld Stefan from South Africa National Team, Mohamed Elewa Yusuf, Mohamed Idriss Abdullah, Ayman Elsayed Mohamed and Mini Emanuel from Egypt National Team Dacal Brais and Saidov Ulugbek from Novo Nordisk Development and JELINIC Zvonimir from Novo Nordisk Development.

Others are Poli Umberto from Novo Nordisk Development, Muffat Adrien of Haute-Savoie/Rhone-Alpes, Clavel Sylvain - Haute-Savoie/Rhone-Alpes and Gathurima Kinoti Ayub-Kenya National Team.