Tour of Rwanda: What’s at stake?

The Tour of Rwanda yellow jersey is one of the most prestigious prizes in the race, but the ultimate winner doesn’t just walk away with the status sport shirt; the race is big business and the prize money reflects that. For the last two editions, financial rewards have given to stage winners, classification leader, and every cyclist who finishes in the top 20. Riders can also bag a bonus on mountain climbs. And this year’s prize pot has even swelled further. More is on offer than ever before. Here’s the full breakdown of the top prize money on offer. The 2016 edition of the Tour of Rwanda features the Prologue (3.3km), but the prize money for top 20 riders is slightly different at each stage. Again, quite generously, prize money is awarded down to the 20th with US$910 (about Rwf733, 609) reserved on that day. US$ 1,800 (Rwf1.4m) is up for grabs for the top 20 riders at each stage. The first will pocket US$680 (Rwf548,192), the second US$340 (Rwf274, 096), and the third US$160 (Rwf128,986). The best 20 riders will again pocket prize money each day, with US$12,600 (Rwf10m) being reserved for the seven stages, US$680 for the first, US$340 for the second and US$160 for the third, while the last 4 will earn US$15. In addition, over US$ 7,350 (Rwf5.9m) will be offered to the top 20 riders each day after the General Classification. The other three jerseys – the white jersey for best young rider, green jersey oforf point’s classification leader, and King of the Mountains are each worth US$ 300 a day. Each team splits the money it wins not just between the riders, but mechanics, soigneurs, coaches and sometimes even the bus driver as well, though each team has its own formula. Valens Ndayisenga, the 2014 champion, was paid US$4,060 That’s less than what defending champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana was given (US$6,080). Nsengimana’s total cash prize included; two stage wins, a prologue, best African, Rwandan and young rider, in addition to the Team Rwanda kitty. This year’s yellow jersey winner is expected to receive more than what the winners of the previous two editions received. At the end of the race, the “Super Combatif” prize is also awarded to the rider deemed most aggressive in the whole race. Eritrean Amanuel Gebreigzabhier, now with Team Dimension Data of South Africa, winner of this category in 2015, received US$300 (Rwf241, 849). And, there are prizes for three top riders in climbing. Classified according to their difficulty, stages are have been given the toughest high climbs C stamp (beyond category) in 2016 with the first rider to the top of each, claiming points. The team classification has prize money down to three places, with US$600 (Rwf483,698) for the best, US$300 (Rwf241,849) for the first runners-up and US$100 (Rwf80,616) for third place finish. The winner of the each stage will be given a specific jersey by Skol, the best climber will wear the Cogebanque jersey, while the best young rider (born on or after January 1, 1994) will wear Soras jersey. The best African rider will wear the RwandAir jersey with the best Rwandan wearing the RDB jersey, while the overall winner will be wear the highly coveted yellow jersey, courtesy of the Ministry of Sports and Culture. editorial@newtimes.co.rw