Belgian riders Pierre de Froidmont and Axel Baumans claimed the Rwandan Epic 2024 victory after five grueling stages of the annual mountain bike race which concluded in Rubavu on Friday, October 25.

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The duo achieved the victory after covering a distance of 254km in 11 hours 23 minutes and 42 seconds, dethroning last year’s champions Daniel Gathof and Peter Schermann, who finished in second place with a time of 11:39:31.

Gathof and Schermann, both Germans, claimed victory in Friday’s Stage 5 which was a 65.5 km ride from Nyabihu District headquarters to Heza Beach, Lake Kivu in Rubavu. It was their second stage win after claiming the fourth stage in Kinigi on Thursday.

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They pushed hard to defend their title but ultimately they fell short, finishing just over 15 minutes behind the new champions Froidmont and Baumans who had consistently set the pace across all stages, winning three out of the five stages.

The third place went to the Twin Lakes Cycling Academy 2 team, represented by Banzi Bukhari and Didier Munyaneza, who completed the race in 12:04:15.

In the Duo Mixed category, Spaniards Oscar Pujol and Mude Rodriguez took the winners’ medal, finishing with a total time of 14:19:30. Rwandans Xaverine Nirere and Eric Muhoza finished second in the category after using 14:39:56.

In the Duo Women category, the Belgian-Rwandan duo Siska Marrécau and Martha Ntakirutimana emerged victorious, clocking a total time of 16:03:31.

In the solo category, Rwandan rider Etienne Tuyizere emerged winner with a total time of 12:57:05, cementing his place as the fastest solo competitor.

The Rwandan Epic is renowned for its challenging courses and breathtaking scenery. The event has become a key platform for showcasing Rwanda’s beauty while promoting both sports and tourism in the region.