Rider Nsengimana gives Rwanda a good start

Jean Bosco Nsengimana gave team Rwanda a good start after winning the Prologue on Sunday to boost his chances of claiming Tour du Rwanda for a second time after the 2015 triumph.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Peter Kamasa

Jean Bosco Nsengimana celebrates on the podium after winning the prologue on the opening day of this year's Tour du Rwanda on Sunday. Sam Ngendahimana.

Monday

Stage 1: Kigali- Huye (120.3km)

Sunday

Prologue: Top fiveJean Bosco Nsengimana (Team Rwanda) 03’46’’06Valens Ndayisenga (Tirol Cycling Team) 03’48”77’De Bod Stefan (Dimension Data for Qhub) 03’52”87Joseph Areruya (Dimension Data For Qhub) 03’54’’44 Suleima Kangangi (Bike Aid) 03’55’’93

RDB CEO Clare Akamanzi uplauds the winner of prologue Jean Bosco Nsengimana as SKOL boss looks on during the ongoing Tour du Rwanda 2017

Jean Bosco Nsengimana gave team Rwanda a good start after winning the Prologue on Sunday to boost his chances of claiming Tour du Rwanda for a second time after the 2015 triumph.

Dimension Data rider Samuel Mugisha finishes the prologue in the 8th position (Samuel Mugisha)

The Team Rwanda rider won the 3.5km Prologue (Amahoro National Stadium-Kimironko-Amahoro National Stadium) in a new course record of 3 minutes, 46 seconds and 06 seconds.

The 24-year-old goes into stage one, Kigali-Huye on Monday, which covers a total distance of 120.3km, wearing the leader’s yellow jersey.

"It is good start for us (Team Rwanda), but we know that we need to do much better in the next seven days, today (Sunday) I did my best to wear the yellow jersey and tomorrow will be even better because I will be having the support of my teammates,” Nsengimana said after winning day one.

Jean Bosco Nsengimana celebrates his victory

Team Rwanda, is one of the three teams representing Rwanda-the others are Benediction Club de Rubavu and Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana.

Defending champion Valens Ndayisenga, riding for Austria-based UCI Tirol Cycling Team, finished in second place in 3 minutes, 48 seconds and 77 microseconds, bettering his 2014 record of 3 minutes and 55 seconds.

Dimension Data for Qhubeka rider, De Bod Stefan came in third position after clocking 3 minutes, 52 seconds and 87 microseconds, while his teammate Joseph Areruya came fourth in 3’54”44 and Kenyan Suleiman Kangangi of Team Bike Aid (Germany) completed the top five in 3’55’’93.

Rwandan rider Areruya Joseph who rides for Dimension Data reaches the finish line in the 4th position (Sam Ngendahimana)

In total, the 2017 Tour du Rwanda will cover a distance of 819km, and for the second consecutive year, will reach in all the four provinces of the country and Kigali.

Many cycling supporters attend the opening ceremonies of Tour du Rwanda 2017

South African De Bod Stefan on the podium after finishing in third position

South African De Bod Stefan reaches the finish line in the third position (Sam Ngendahimana)

Team Rwanda cyclist Patrick Byukusenge crosses the line to finish seventh (Sam Ngendahimana)

Tirol cycling team rider Valens Ndayisenga finished in second position

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