Stage 6: Rubavu-Kigali

1. JB Nsengimana 4h10’22’’2. J. Areruya 4h11’00’’3. C. Hakuzimana 4h11’21’’4. J. Biziyaremye 4h11’34’’5. JC Uwizeye 4h11’54’’

Other Rwandans7. A. Ruhumuriza 4h11’54’’8. P. Byukusenge 4h11’54’’10. N. Byukusenge 4h11’59’’12. J. Karegeya 4h12’11’’24. B. Uwizeyimana 4h14’00’’25. E. Bintunimana 4h14’25’’37. H. Gasore 4h19’27’’39. H. Janvier 4h20’42’’

General Classification1. JB Nsengimana 20h 52’15’’2. J. Areruya 20h 54’00’’3. C. Hakuzimana 20h 54’43’’4. P. Byukusenge 20h55’06’’5. Lukas Winterberg (Suisse) 20h55’10’’

Jean-Bosco Nsengimana is one stage win away from wrapping up the 7th edition of the Tour du Rwanda after claiming stage six on Saturday from Rubavu to Kigali, a distance of 156.5 kilometers in a time of 4h10’22’’.

The Team Rwanda Karisimbi rider led an all-Rwanda 1, 2,3,4,5 in the penultimate stage and goes into Sunday’s final stage, two minutes and 15 seconds ahead of Joseph Areruya of Team Rwanda Akagera in the general classification.

Today’s stage seven will see riders race 120 kilometers around the City of Kigali. Nsengimana told Sunday Sport that he wants to win the Tour for Valens Ndayisenga (last year’s winner) and Ephrem Tuyishimire, who dropped out of the race on Friday and Saturday respectively due to sickness.

Nsengimana, 22, has led the led the race since the first day at the prologue on Sunday. He also won stage three from Kigali to Musanze, a total distance of 102.7km, on Wednesday.

With a lead of 1’45’’ on the second-placed Areruya and more than two minutes over the other rivals, the Team Karisimbi rider has a sufficient margin, and only failure to finish today’s last stage, can deny him victory as the second Rwandan to win the prestigious race.

Rwandans dominated stage six after 8 of them came in top 10. Only two foreigners Lukas Winterberg (Swiss 0 came in sixth position with time of 4h11’54’’ and Eritrean Eyob Metkel, who came in ninth position with 4h11’54’’.

"With over 2 minutes ahead of our opponents, we are in good position to win the race back to back. I am happy for winning this stage but we have to finish the business on Sunday,” Nsengimana said.

Shawky Islam (Egypt) had a gap of 1’20” through the villages of Karambo, Rutenderi and Ngarama before the start of the climb in Kinini (118.1km) but the peloton of 18 riders, that included race leader Nsengimana, reduced to the gap to 36 seconds before Nsengimana surged ahead along with Areruya.

With 20km to the finish line, Eritrean Meron Teshome tried to escape in the descent but without success, while the attack Mekseb Debesay (Team Bike-Aid) and Metkel Eyob ridrign for the Eritrea National Team did not succeed.

But it was Nsengimana, who escaped the peloton on the fast and winding descent under the morning heavy down pour.

From Shyorongi, Nyabugogo, Biryogo up to Kigali Regional Stadium, riders started to drop off one by one with huge crowds along the roads cheering them on, and enjoying the race without fearing the rain.

Team Rwanda coach Felix Sempoma believes that the title is for the home riders to lose but they have to stay focused to the end. "We are in good position but we have to make sure that we are prepared mentally and physically to win the last stage,” he said.

Tuyishimire out of Tour du Rwanda

Team Rwanda Muhabura rider Ephrem Tuyishimire has been ruled out of the Tour du Rwanda after failing to recover from concussion.

The 19-year old suffered concussion after a crash in stage two from Kigali-Huye which was won by his teammates Emile Bintunimana.

Competing in the Tour du Rwanda for the first time, Tuyishimire was on 46th position overall with time of 17h54’55’’. His team, Muhabura is on fifth position behind Karisimbi, Akagera, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

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