Most stage winners of Tour du Rwanda

Tour du Rwanda became part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) in 2009 as a 2.2 race type. Since then, a total of 330 riders, 37 countries, and five continents, have participated in the annual event. Of the 330 riders, 38 have won at least a stage. Saturday Sport looks at the 15 riders that have won more than one stage over the last seven editions. Four-time winners 1. Debesay Mekseb (Eriteria) On top of this list is 25-year old Eritrean professional cyclist Debesay Mekseb currently riding for South African UCI Continental Team Dimension Data. He has won four stages, including two in 2014 – stage 1 Kigali-Kibugo and stage 6 Huye-Kigali) – and two in 2015 - Stage 1 Nyagatare-Rwamagana and stage 4 Musanze-Nyanza. 2. Kiel Reijnen (USA) Kiel Reijnen, 30, is an American cyclist riding for UCI WorldTeam Trek–Segafredo. In 2011, while riding for Team Type 1–Sanofi Aventis, he won four stages before clinching the overall winner title. He clinched the prologue (in Kigalii), Stage 1 Rwamagana-Kigali, stage 2 Kigali-Rwamagana and stage 4 Rubavu-Muhanga. Three-time winner 3. Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Rwanda) Defending champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana is the only rider in this category. The Germany-based Stradalli Bike Aid Rwandan star won three stages in the 2015 edition on his way to win the race. He wore the yellow jersey throughout the competition winning the prologue race, then stage 3 Kigali-Musanze and stage 6 Rubavu-Kigali. Two-time winners 4. Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda) There have been 12 two-time stage winners of Tour du Rwanda since 2009. The list includes Valens Ndayisenga, the first Rwandan to win the UCI-Africa Tour – a feat he achieved in 2014. In 2013, he won stage 2 Rwamagana-Musanze, while in 2014 he claimed the same stage. However, this year, he will ride for his South-Africa based club, Dimension Data. 5. Metkel Eyob (Eritrea) Eritrean Metkel, who also rides for Dimension Data, won stage 6 Huye-Kigali while riding for South Africa’s Girdlestone Dylan, before taking stage 7 Kigali-Kigali of the 2015 edition riding for Eritrean national team. 6. Mouhssine Lahsaini (Morocco) In sixth place is Moroccan road bicycle racer Mouhssine Lahsaini. He has previously won two stages while riding for his national team: stage 5 Huye-Kigali and stage 8 Nyagatare-Kigali. 7. Amanuel Meron (Eriteria) In 2012, Eritrean Meron, currently riding for Germany’s Bike Aid, clinched two stages, namely stage 2 Kigali-Muhanga and stage 6 Musanze-Rubavu. 8. Bruno Langlois (Canada) In 2012, Canadian Bruno Langlois, who was riding for Team Quebecor Garneau, won two stages (stage 4 Huye-Karongi and stage 8 Kigali-Kigali). 9. Frekalsi Debesay (Eritrea) In 2010, Frekalsi Debesay, from Eritrea, won stage 5 Rubavu-Kigali and the last stage (9th) Kigali-Kigali. 10. Darren Lill (South Africa) South African Darren Lill, while riding for his national team, in 2012 took two stages that include stage 3 Muhanga-Huye and stage 7 Rubavu-Kigali. 11. Abdelati Saadoune (Morocco) Abdelati Saadoune, from Morocco, took two stages in the 2009 edition, which are stage 4 Ngoma-Huye and stage 8 Nyagatare-Kigali. 12. Joseph Bizayaremye (Rwanda) Rwanda’s Joseph Biziyaremye, who will this year feature for Team Rwanda, in 2011, won stage 7 Karongi-Kigali, before clinching stage 5 Rubavu-Nyanza. 13. Janvier Hadi (Rwanda) Rwandan Janvier Hadi may have recently surprised many by retiring from the sport at the age of 25, but he has a place in the competition’s history. . In 2013, he won the prologue race (Kigali-Kigali) before repeating the same feat in 2014. 14. MraouniSalah Eddine (Morocco) In 2014, MraouniSalah Eddine, from Morocco, won two stages: stage 4 Muhanga-Rubavu, and stage 7 Kigali-Kigali. 15. Azzedine Lagab (Algeria) Algeria’s Azzedine Lagab is the other man to have won two stages in the prestigious competition. In 2013, he clinked stage 5 Muhanga-Nyamagabe and stage 7 Kigali-Kigali. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Most stage winners of Tour du Rwanda