Saturday

Individual Time Trial (4.5km)

Select results

1. Valencia Restrepo – 06'32''38 2. Hailu Biniam – 06'34''56 3. Patrick Schelling – 06'38''07

11. Joseph Areruya – 06'55''13 21. Natnael Tesfazion – 06'59''77 22. Samuel Mugisha – 07'00''46 47. Moise Mugisha – 07'21''16

General Classification (Top 5)

1. Natnael Tesfazion – 20:38:58 2. Moise Mugisha – 20:40:28 3. Patrick Schelling – 20:40:47 4. Carlos Quintero – 20:40:53 5. Kent Main – 20:41:04

VALENCIA Jhonatan Restrepo has continued his rampage after narrowly edging Eritrean Hailu Biniam to win the penultimate stage of the 2020 Tour du Rwanda on Saturday.

The Colombian star, riding for Italian side Androni Giocattoli, finished just two seconds ahead of Biniam, but he was 27 ahead of Yellow Jersey bearer Natnael Tesfazion who only could finish in 21st position. 

With Saturday’s victory, Restrepo has now won a record-equalling fourth stage in one Tour du Rwanda edition, which was previously done only by American Kiel Reijnen in 2011.

However, the biggest winner of the Individual Time Trial (ITT) was Swiss rider Patrick Schelling, featuring for Israel Start-up Nation, who rode his way into the top three overall at the expense of Carlos Quintero who has now dropped to fourth position.

Schelling, 29, goes into Sunday's ultimate stage (Stage 8) trailing second-placed Moise Mugisha by only 19 seconds.

22-year old Mugisha lost significant time Saturday afternoon as he used 7 minutes and 21 seconds to cover the 4.5km ITT distance, almost 22 seconds more than what Tesfazion clocked.

Joseph Areruya, the 2017 Tour du Rwanda winner, was the only Rwanda inside the top 20, having used 6 minutes and 55 seconds to finish 11th.

Barring a crash or any major setback in Stage 8 – a 89.3km circuit ride in Kigali, Tesfazion is the red-hot favourite for this year's title as he has 1:30 advantage over closest contender Mugisha.

Should 20-year old Tesfazion claim the coveted Yellow Jersey, he will become just the third Eritrean to win Tour du Rwanda after Daniel Teklehaimanot (2010) and Merhawi Kudus last year.

Stage 7 classification. Joseph Areruya was the only Rwandan in top 20.

General Classification after Stage 7. Mugisha trails leader Tesfazion by 90 seconds.