KIEL Reijnen was yesterday crowned 2011 Tour of Rwanda champion. The Team Type 1 rider used 21 hours, 21 minutes and 44 seconds in the grueling eight stage race which climaxed yesterday with a 131km stage from Karongi to Kigali. Reijnen beat his team-mate Joey Rosskopf by two seconds in what will go down as one of the closest finishes in the race’s history.
KIEL Reijnen was yesterday crowned 2011 Tour of Rwanda champion. The Team Type 1 rider used 21 hours, 21 minutes and 44 seconds in the grueling eight stage race which climaxed yesterday with a 131km stage from Karongi to Kigali.
Reijnen beat his team-mate Joey Rosskopf by two seconds in what will go down as one of the closest finishes in the race’s history.
The Colorado-born Reijnen acknowledged the high level of competition in this year’s edition.
"It was a tough race right from the first to the last stage but I’m happy I kept going,” the 25-year-old, who pocketed over Rwf1.3m for the triumph, said.
Nathan Byukusenge of Karismbi was the best placed Rwandan after finishing 4th with an overall time of 21 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds.
Four-time champion Abraham Ruhumuriza and South Africa based-rider Adrien Niyonshuti came in fifth and sixth positions respectively.
Rookie Joseph Biziyaremye, who was riding in just his second international competition, had something to smile about after winning the final stage.
The Akagera rider clocked 3 hours, 33 minutes and 53 seconds to beat Reijnen and Rosskopf by nine seconds.
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