As the 2016 Tour du Rwanda gets underway today with a 3.3km prologue race around Amahoro National Stadium, defending champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana has vowed to break his current standing record of the least time he set last year.
Today
Prologue Stage, Nov. 13: Amahoro Stadium-Amahoro Stadium (3.3km)Stage 1 – Nov.14: Kigali-Ngoma (96.4km)Stage 2 – Nov. 15: Kigali Convention Center-Karongi (124.7km)Stage 3 –Nov. 16: Karongi-Rusizi (115.9km)Stage 4 –Nov. 17 Rusizi-Huye (140.7km)Stage 5 – Nov. 18 Muhanga-Musanze (125.8km)Stage 6 – Nov. 19 Musanze-Kigali Regional Stadium (103.9km)Stage 7 – Nov. 20 Kigali Amahoro Stadium-Kigali Amahoro Stadium (108.0km)
As the 2016 Tour du Rwanda gets underway today with a 3.3km prologue race around Amahoro National Stadium, defending champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana has vowed to break his current standing record of the least time he set last year.
Nsengimana, while riding for Team Rwanda Karisimbi, set a new record after using 3 minutes, 52 seconds to complete a 3.5km distance around Amahoro stadium before going ahead to win 2.2 UCI Africa Tour race seven days later.
The 22-year-old rider broke the course record by 11 seconds—the old record was set in 2012 by the Canadian Rémi Pelletier-Roy.
The Nyabihu-born cyclist also became the second Rwandan rider to win the Tour du Rwanda prologue since it was introduced as part of the tour in 2011—he followed in the footsteps of Janvier Hadi, who claimed it in 2013 and 2014.
Speaking to Sunday Sport yesterday, Nsengimana, who will ride for his German-based UCI Continental Team Stradalli Bike Aid, pointed out that he hopes to make a flying start similar to last year’s edition; however, noted that he’d be glad to break his own record.
"Since last year I have set my personal target for every Tour du Rwanda, which is to win the prologue because it gives you that early advantage, confidence and chances to win the overall competition, especially if you can avoid any difficulties along the way,” he said.
"I want to break last year’s record now that the race will cover a distance of 3.3km (0.2km less than last year), I hope to use at least 3 minutes and 30 seconds,” Nsengimana said.
In 2011 when the prologue race was first introduced, American Reijnen Kiel, riding for Team Type 1 - SANOFI won it after clocking 4 minutes and 22 seconds and went on to win the whole competition.
Canadian Rémi Pelletier-Roy took in 2012 using a record time of 04’03” while Rwandan Hadi (now retired) won the 2013’s edition after posting 04’05” before taking it gain in 2014 using 04’04”.
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