Stage 4: Top 101. Joseph Areruya- Les Amis Sportifs 04h02’43’’2. Joseph Biziyaremye- Team Rwanda 04h02’43’’3. Aman Werkilul Ghebreigzabhier- Dimension Data 04h02’43’’4. Tesfom OKubamariam- Eritrea National Team 04h02’43’’5. Patrick Byukusenge- Club Benediction 04h02’43’’6. Eyob Metkel- Dimension Data 04h02’43’’7. Amanuel Meron-Stradalli - Bike Aid 04h02’43’’8. Calvin Beneke- South Africa 04h02’43’’9. Kibrom Hailay Giday- Ethiopia National Team 04h02’43’’10. Suleiman Kangangi- Kenyan Riders DownUnder 04h02’43’’

General Classification1. Valens Ndayisenga -Dimension Data 12h54’36’’2. Joseph Areruya - Les Amis Sportifs 12h55’52’’3. Tesfom Okubamariam - Eritrea National Team 12h55’59’’ 4. Jean Bosco Nsengimana – Stradalli-Bike Aid 12h56’02’’ 5. Eyob Metkel - Dimension Data 12h53’04’’ 6. Amanu Ghebreigzabhier Werkilul - Dimension Data 12h58’01’’ 7. Patrick Byukusenge - Club Benediction 12h58’02’’ 8. Suleiman Kangagi - Kenyan Riders DownUnder 12h58’02’’ ‘’ 9. Temesgen Mebrahtu Buru - Ethiopia National team 12h58’13’’ 10. Brett Wachtendorf - Team LowestRates 12h58’15’’

After finishing second in the third stage (Kivu Belt) on Wednesday, Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana’s Tour du Rwanda title hopeful Joseph Areruya upped his game to win this year’s toughest stage (Rusizi-Huye) also known as ‘Nyungwe Challenge’ yesterday.

The 20-year-old rider, who wore the yellow jersey after stage one before losing it to his compatriot Valens Ndayisenga in stage three, covered this year’s longest route (140.7km) in a time of 4 hours, 2 minutes and 43 seconds.

In a highly competitive stage, the Kayonza-born star beat the first peloton that comprised 22 riders in the last 50 meters to clinch the Skol Orange jersey for the stage winner.

This was the second time in as many months that Areruya wins the Nyungwe Challenge after taking it last month during the final preparations for the local riders.

Team Rwanda’s Joseph Biziyaremye came in the second place followed by Eritrean Aman Werkilul Ghebreigzabhier riding for South Africa’s Dimension Data while Tesfome Okubamariam finished fourth with Patrick Byukusenge of Benediction Club completing the top five, all using the same time.

"I’m very excited, because this is the toughest and longest stage in this year’s Tour. It was very challenging especially riding through the cold weather in Nyungwe forests for almost one and half hours. I stayed in the middle of the first peloton which helped me to save energy for the final push,” said Areruya.

Defending champion Jean-Bosco Nsegimana crossed the line in 14th place while 2014 winner Valens Ndayisenga, who still leads this year’s race in general classification, was 15th and veteran Team rider Abraham Ruhumuriza came in 18th place.

Prologue and stage three winner, Timothy Rugg, riding for Canadian debutant Team LowestRates was 17th and still out of the top 10 in general classification.

There was only a difference of 11 micro-seconds between the first peloton and the second group that was comprised of three Rwandans namely; Samuel Mugisha (Benediction Club), Gasore Hategeka and Nathan Byukusenge of Team Rwanda, who all used 04h02’54”

For the third time in a row, 18-year-old Mugisha scooped the best climbers’ award.

The riders covered the 140.7km distance on an average speed of 34.78km/h. After 481 kilometres of four stages, the riders have an average speed of 37.27km/h.

After stage 4, Ndayisenga, racing for South Africa-based Continental Team Dimension Data For Qhubeka, still leads on the general classification with a time of 12 hours, 54 minutes and 36 seconds, a gap of one minute and 16 seconds ahead of second-placed Areruya.

After yesterday’s stage, Ndayisenga also scooped the best young rider award, best Rwandan award and best African award. Today, for stage five, riders will peddle off from Muhanga heading to Musanze, a total distance of 125.8km.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw