Rwandan riders have started to show what they can on home soil after they dominated stage two of the ongoing Tour of Rwanda, yesterday claiming the top three positions in general classification.
Top ten1 Ndayisenga Valens -Dimension Data 3h16’46’’2 Kangangi Suleiman -Kenyan Riders Down Under 3h17’52’’ 3 Joseph Areruya -Les Amis Sportifs 03h18’13’’ 4. Eyob Metkel- Dimension Data 3h18’13’’5 Jean Bosco Nsengimana- Stradalli - Bike Aid 03h18’13’’6 Tesfom Okubamariam -Eritrea National Team 3h18’13’’ 7 Abraham Ruhumuriza - Team Rwanda 3h18’13’’8 Wachtendorf Brett- Team LowestRates 3h18’13’’9. Ghebreigzabhier Werkilul Aman- Dimension Data 3h18’13’’ 10. Patrick Byukusenge- Club Benediction 3h18’13”
General Classification1. Valens Ndayisenga- Dimension Data 05h33’26”2. Joseph Areruya- Les Amis Sportif 05h34’51”3. Jean Bosco Nsengimana- Stradalli-Bike Aid 05h34’52”4. Tesfom Okubamariam- Eriteria 05h34’585. Eyob Mitkel- Dimension Data 05h35’03”6. Suleiman Kangangi-Kenyan Down Under 05h36’33”7. Amanu Werkilul Ghebreigzabhier- Dimension Data 05h36’46”8. MebraTemesgen Buru- Ethiopia 05h36’51”9. Sebastien Fayard Fournet-Haute-Savoi/Rhone-Alpe 05h36’53”10. Brett Wachtendorf- LowestRates 05h36’53”
Rwandan riders have started to show what they can on home soil after they dominated stage two of the ongoing Tour of Rwanda, yesterday claiming the top three positions in general classification.
The 2014 winner, Valens Ndayisenga, currently riding for South Africa’s Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, was the star of the day, winning the stage (Kigali-Karongi), a distance of 124.7km, in three hours, 16 minutes and forty six micro-seconds.
The Rwamagana-born rider beat his nearest rival, Suleiman Kangagi of Kenyan Riders Down Under (3h17’52’’), by one minute and six seconds.
Stage one winner Joseph Areruya, riding for Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana, came in third position, clocking 3 hours, 18 minutes and 13 micro seconds—one minute and 27 seconds behind Ndayisenga.
Defending champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana, who is racing for Germany-based Continental Team Stradalli-Bike Aid, finished fifth using 3 hours, 18 minutes and 13 micro-seconds.
"This stage was very competitive, however, I tried to reserve myself for the last five kilometres. I took the decision to attack from about ten kilometres and I sprinted well which helped me to win the stage,” Ndayisenga told Times Sport after his stage triumph. It is the third Tour du Rwanda stage win for the 2014 champion.
He added, "I wanted to win a stage because, it has been a long time since I last won one, but also give Rwandans something to cheer for, they have been supportive.”
Following his stage triumph, Ndayisenga scooped not only the yellow jersey, but also the best Rwandan rider award, best African rider award, and best young rider jersey.
Nineteen-year old debutant Samuel Mugisha, riding for Rubavu-based Benediction Club, was the best climber of the day after winning four of the seven climbs in the stage.
After day three and two stages, Ndayisenga is now the race new leader in the general classification, with a time of 5hours, 33 minutes and 26 micro-seconds, followed by compatriot Areruya, who has so far used 5 hours, 34 minutes and 51 micro-seconds.
Nsengimana is one minute and 26 second behind Areruya, in third place, while Tesfom Okubariam of Eritrea national team, is in the fourth place with 5 hours, 34 minutes and 58 micro-seconds.
On Wednesday, in stage three, riders will head to Rusizi from Karongi (115.9km) also known as Kivu-Belt, one of the two new routes that have been added to this year’s Tour du Rwanda.
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