After a dismal Tour of Eritrea, Team Rwanda returns home

Top three 1. Merhawi Goitom 16:22:55 2. Tesfay Mihreteab 16:22:56 3. Adhanom Zemekael 16:23:06 Team Rwanda 15. Joseph Areruya + 11:28 17. Camera Hakuzimana + 14:16 18. Jean Claude Uwizeye + 14:59 27. Ephrem Tuyishime + 50:59 Team Classification 1. Team Selina 2. Team Tsinat 3. Eritrea 4. Stradalli- Bike Aid 5. Rwanda TEAM Rwanda Cycling will arrive back in the country this afternoon at 2:45pm aboard Qatar Airways after a poor performance at the just concluded Tour of Eritrea held from April 19 to 23. The five-day long continental class race was won by Eritrean youngster Merhawi Goitom who also claimed the U23 category. Joseph Areruya was Rwanda’s top performer and the second best foreign (non-Eritrean) rider after Italian Eugenio Boni (Amore &Vita – Selle SMP Team) who finished in the 11th position. The six-man team which left the country on April 13 for the 6th edition of the annual Eritrean Tour, a 2.2 UCI race category, finished fifth out of eight participating teams, despite having topped the table in the first two stages. Jonathan Boyer’s men started off to an impressive start, shining in stage one and two but under performed in the third and fourth stage. Skipper Patrick Byukusenge and upcoming Samuel Mugisha failed to finish the race, pulling out from the fourth and fifth stage. In the fifth and final stage held on Saturday, Areruya finished second, behind stage winner Million Amanuel of Eritrea. Yonas Fissahaye, Tesfay Mihreteab and Merhawi Goitom were 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively. Jean Claude Uwizeye, Camera Hakuzimana and Ephrem Tuyishined finished 15th, 16th and 25th respectively. Areruya Joseph finished in the 15th place out of 27 riders who managed to complete the competition. Overall, 17 riders abandoned the race from different stages, the start-list had a total 44 cyclists of which 21 were Eritreans.

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After a dismal Tour of Eritrea, Team Rwanda returns home