Nsengimana wins prologue as Tour du Rwanda starts

Top ten Jean-Bosco Nsengimana Team Karisimbi 03’52’’02Valens Ndayisenga Team Karisimbi 03’55’’60Janvier Hadi Team Karisimbi 04’02’’09Jérémy Bescond Haute-Savoie/Rhone-Alpe Fra 04’02’’51Camera Hakuzimana Team Muhabura 04’04’’13Joseph Biziyaremye Team Akagera 04’04’’30Mekseb Debesay Bike Aid 04’04’’58Willie Smith Team S.A 04’05’’53Joseph Areruya Team Akagera 04’08’’25Tesfom Okubamariam Team Eritrea 04’08’’31 Others Rwandans: Jérémie Karegeya Team Akagera 04’09’’29Bonaventure Uwizeyimana Team Karisimb 04’14’’63Emile Bintunimana Team Muhabura 04’14’’77Jean-Claude Uwizeye Team Akagera 04’18’’34Nathan Byukusenge Team Muhabura 04’19’’64Hategeka Gasore Team Muhabura 04’19’’66 Abraham Ruhumuriza Team Akagera 04’22’’49Ephrem Tuyishirmire Team Muhabura 04’32’’48 Patrick Byukusenge Team Karisimbi 04’50’’11 Team Karisimbi rider Jean Bosco Nsengimana won the prologue of this year’s Tour du Rwanda after using 3 minutes, 52 seconds, a new record in the 3.5km race around Amahoro National Stadium on Sunday. Team Karisimbi, one of the three teams representing Rwanda, showed their rivals what they will face in the next seven days as they swept the first three positions. Tour du Rwanda defending champions Valens Ndayisenga, finished in second place with 3 minutes and 55 seconds, while Janvier Hadi came in third position in 4 minutes and 2 seconds. Jeremy Bescond, riding for French team Haute-Savoie/Rhone-Alpe Fra, came in fourth position with 4 minutes and 5 seconds. Nsengimana will start Monday’s stage one from Nyagatare to Rwamagana (96.4km) wearing the yellow Jersey. The 22-year-old rider broke the course record by 11 seconds, held since 2012 by the Canadian Rémi Pelletier-Roy. Yesterday’s triumph for Rubavu-born rider earned him US$320 (about Rwf240, 000) for winning prologue—he also won other cash prizes including the best African rider, best Rwandan rider and best younger rider, each worthy US$300, which totaled US$900 (approx. Rwf675, 000). Ndayisenga earned US$160 (about Rwf120, 000) for finishing second and US$300 (about Rwf225, 000) for best climber. Nsengimana becomes the second Rwandan rider in as many years to win the prologue stage of Tour du Rwanda following in the footsteps of Hadi, who claimed last year’s. “It is great satisfaction to be on the top of the podium today. This is a great result that confirms the progress of our team,” said Nsengimana. Occupying six positions in the top ten, home riders will go into the seven stages, starting today, in high spirits as they bid to retain the title. French former professional Bescond denied local riders a clean sweep of the fop five places. Eritrean Mekseb Debesay, winner of the Best African Cyclist 2014 award, finished in 7th place, 12 seconds behind Nsengimana. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Nsengimana wins prologue as Tour du Rwanda starts