Bike Aid rider Eric Muhoza has fired a warning to his rivals that he and his teammates are ready to fight for this year’s yellow jersey at Tour du Rwanda which continues on Tuesday from Huye to Musanze.
The only Rwandan cyclist riding for a foreign team, Muhoza is among over 90 riders contesting at the 15th edition of the 2.1 UCI road race.
He was the best performing Rwanda rider during Stage Two from Kigali to Gisagara although, emerging 28th after losing to stage winner Ethan Vernon on sprint by just microseconds.
After two stages, Muhoza now sits 27th on general classification with 6 hours 7 minutes and 22 seconds, just microseconds behind yellow jersey holder Vernon.
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As the race heads to Musanze from Huye where riders will cover a distance of 199.5 kilometers, the former Amis Sportifs ace told Times Sport that winning Tour du Rwanda 2023 remains not only his but every Rwandan rider’s priority regardless of who they are fighting the yellow jersey with.
"We can win the Tour du Rwanda again or win more stages than we did in the past. Tomorrow [Tuesday], we are going to give it all so that we can change history and we know we are facing tough teams, "he said in an interview.
Commenting on Rwanda’s chances of finally winning Tour du Rwanda, Muhoza admitted that he is competing at ‘the toughest’ Tour du Rwanda but expressed his confidence in Rwandan riders that they have all it takes to successfully win a stage or title this year.
"Tour du Rwanda continues to improve by the year and this stage and this year we will see what will happen but we are ready to give our best and challenge for it,” he said.
Muhoza was recognized as the best Rwandan rider after Stage Two in Gisagara and, in Bike Aid, he said that teamwork is what is motivating him to perform better stage after stage as he continues to raise his confidence from a race pretender to a serious contender against all odds.
"My team (Bike Aid) is good and we are trying to play as a team and we will keep on improving. It is hard to say that we are going to win but we are ready because we have all it takes to challenge big name cycling figures,” he said.
Stage three promises to be the first important day for the overall classification. The first half of the day is gentler, but there will be four first category ascents in the final half: 7.1Km at 6.5% will split the field, and the hilltop finish in Musanze will feature 2.8 kilometers at 6%.
Stage Three is the longest stage ever in the history of Tour du Rwanda and the 199.5 kilometres that separate the start in Huye and the finish in Musanze are anything but flat.
Historically, the route to Musanze has been so good to Rwandans compared to other destinations.
Former Tour du Rwanda winner, Valens Ndayisenga twice won the stage in 2013 and 2014 from Rwamagana to Musanze while Joseph Areruya, also won stage three of the 2017 Tour du Rwanda, from Rubavu to Musanze while under the colors of South African side Qhubeka.
In 2020, Eric Manizabayo lost the 129km Muhanga-Musanze race to French rider Alexandre Geniez of Total Energies coming third with 19 seconds shy.
Tour du Rwanda is one of Africa's most celebrated cycling events. Its route is across the length and breadth of the visually-stunning country of 1000 hills.
If visiting Rwanda has been on your bucket list, the Tour du Rwanda offers the perfect chance to fulfil your dreams.
Stage Two winners:
1. Yellow Jersey holder: Ethan Vernon (Soudal Quick Step)
2. Best Climbing rider: Marc Oliver Pritzen (EF Education-Nippo)
3. Best Young Rider: Ethan Vernon (Soudal Quick Step)
4. Best Sprinter: Ethan Vernon (Soudal Quick Step)
5. Stage Winner: Ethan Vernon (Soudal Quick Step)
6. Best Rwandan Rider: Eric Muhoza (Bike Aid)
7. Best African Rider: Henok Mulueberhan (Green Project)
8. Best Combative Rider: Marc Oliver Pritzen (EF Education-Nippo)
9. The Best in Breakaway: Marc Oliver Pritzen (EF Education-Nippo)
10. Team of the Day: Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team (Malaysia)