Tour of Gabon

Stage 1- 81km (Bongoville-Akiéni)
Stage 2- 125km (Kabala – Franceville)
Stage 3- 100km (Ngouoni – Moanda)
Stage 4- 100km (Ngouoni – Moanda)
Stage 5- 130km (Bifoun – Ntoum)
Stage 6- 130km (Owendo – Libreville)

ABRAHAM Ruhumuriza is ready to lead Team Rwanda to a good finish during the fifth edition of the Tour of Gabon which is also dubbed ‘La Tropicale Amissa Bongo’. The tour takes off this morning in Gabon’s capital-Libreville.

The four-time tour of Rwanda champion is captaining the team in the absence of Adrien Niyonshuti who is representing his South African club MTN Energade during the six day event.

Ruhumuriza told Times Sport before the team’s departure last Friday that he is desperate to impress in an international cycling competition.

"My target this year is to become a professional rider and I can only achieve that by performing well during international events like the tour of Gabon,” the 30-year-old said.

Eleven teams are in contention including four professional clubs-two French cycling clubs (BBox Bouygues Telecom and AG2R), Confidis (Switzerland) and MTN Energade (South Africa). Other national teams in the contest include: Kenya, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Gabon which will field two teams.

The race will be composed of six stages: Stage One- Bongoville - Akiéni (86.00 Km), Stage two; Kabala - Franceville (125.00 Km), stage three; Ngouoni - Moanda (100.00 Km), stage four; Ngouoni - Moanda (100.00 Km), stage five; Bifoun - Ntoum (130.00 Km) and stage six; Owendo - Libreville (130.00 Km).

Ends