Unlike all previous editions, this year’s Tour du Rwanda final race to be conducted around Kigali, will be flagged from the familiar start at Amahoro National Stadium and finish at Kigali Stadium in Nyamirambo.
The final race will be held today, after which the winner of the 2018 edition will be crowned.
Previously, Tour du Rwanda’s final race started from Amahoro Stadium through Kimironko-Kibagabaga-Nyarutarama-MTN Centre-RDB-Airtel and back to Amahoro Stadium.
The cyclists would go through the same grueling race for about seven circuits.
On the 10th edition of the popular cycling race – since it become part of the UCI annual calendar – cyclists will still go through the same traditional routes for four laps before diverting to another route on the fifth round.
According to Jean Marie Vianney Ndushabandi, the spokesperson for traffic and road safety department of National Police, the final circuit will start from Amahoro Stadium through Kimironko-Kibagabaga-Utexrwa-Red Cross-Kinamba 1 & 2-Poids Lourds-Kanogo-Cercle Sportif-Mirongo Ine-Mumena-Tapis Rouge-Nyakabanda-Kwa Mutwe-Biryogo Mosque-Sky Hotel-CBD Roundabout-Yamaha-Nyabugogo-Kimisagara-Kwa Mutwe-Mirongo Ine – and finish at Kigali Stadium.
"Due to such changes, traffic flow around the city will be interrupted to allow the race to go on smoothly. We expect road users to cooperate like always and make this tour a success again.” Ndushabandi told Sunday Times.
After Stage 6, Rwanda’s International youngster Samuel Mugisha, 20, still holds on to the Yellow Jersey and seems set to win his maiden Tour du Rwanda title if all goes to plan today.
For the fifth consecutive day, Mugisha leads the general classification having so far used 19h31’52” – followed by compatriot Jean Claude Uwizeye 21 seconds adrift.
Team Ethiopia’s Mulu Hailemicheal remains third with 1’10” off the leader.
Meanwhile, riders are full of praise for the masses of spectators on the roadsides and ‘fantastic atmosphere’ in the ongoing 10th Tour du Rwanda.
The Tour du Rwanda will have its rating upgraded by the UCI to 2.1 from 2.2 grade in 2019.
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