Best climbers: Top Ten

1. Samuel Mugisha- Benediction Club 87 Pts2. Hailay Kibrom Giday-Ethiopia National Team 273. Patrick Byukusenge- Club Benediction 204. Timothy Rugg- Team LowestRates.ca 205. Eyob Metkel- Dimension Data for Qhubeka 17 6. Mebrahtu Temesgen Buru- Ethiopia National Team 16 7. Edward Greene- Team LowestRates.ca 15 8. Joseph Kamau Gichora- Kenyan riders DownUnder 149. Gasore Hategeka- Team Rwanda 1310. Valens Ndayisenga- Dimension Data 12

Benediction Cycling Club coach Felix Sempoma has hailed fast rising rider Samuel Mugisha following his excellent debut at the just-concluded 2016 Tour du Rwanda.

The 18-year-old rider was among the six cyclists that made their first appearance in the category 2.2 UCI Africa Tour road race that covered a total distance of 819.1 kilometers and was won by Rwandan Valens Ndayisenga, who was riding for South Africa-based Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka.

The five other debutants included Eric Nduwayo (Team Rwanda), Jean Ruberwa and Alex Nizeyimana (Club Benediction), while Mathieu Twizerane and Samuel Hakiruwizeye featured for Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana.

"I am very proud of Mugisha, he is just 18 and this is his first Tour du Rwanda, one of the most difficult races on the continent with a lot of mountainous routes.

But after this race, there is no doubt that he is our new king of mountain climbing,” Sempoma told Times Sport on Sunday.

Mugisha beat his closest rival Hailay Kibrom Giday from Ethiopia by a difference of 60 points while his Benediction Club teammate and captain Patrick Byukusenge was the second runner up having collected only 20 points.

Sempoma added that, "It’s amazing for Mugisha and the other five debutants, they have really done well and I have no doubt that we are likely to keep winning his race even in the coming years.”

On the general classification, Mugisha finished in the 25th place clocking 21hours 40 minutes 35 seconds, a gap of 25 minutes and 14 seconds behind the race winner Ndayisenga. Mugisha was also 21st on the list of best African riders and 9th best young rider.

For winning the best climber’s category, the Mukamira native walked away with US$300 (about Rwf243,000).

editorial@newtimes.co.rw