Ndayisenga aims to set Tour du Rwanda record

The 2014 Tour du Rwanda winner Valens Ndayisenga is seeking to set a record of becoming the first rider to win the international cycling race more than once. Ndayisenga, riding for South Africa-based Continental Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, is aiming to win the 8th edition of the annual event and become the first rider to do it twice since it was added on the UCI-Africa Tour, category 2.2 road race in 2009. “It is possible to do that but we have to stay focused. I am really happy with the way my team is helping me, and if we can keep doing what we’re doing, I believe we will win the tour,” the Rwandan professional cyclists told Saturday Sport. He added, “I am glad to be leading this year’s Tour du Rwanda but it is still early, you cannot predict what could happen in the last three stages, but my wish and that of my team is to keep the yellow jersey to the last day.” Ndayisenga, who won stage two, wants to end on a high note his first professional season with Dimension Data. He also claimed the African title for the U23 Individual Time Trial at the beginning of the year. “I wanted to prove that I still had the qualities to win here. Last year, I was very unfortunate to fall sick and withdraw from the race after five days. I was really frustrated but I fought to get back to my best level this year,” noted the 22-year-old. In stage five on Friday, from Muhanga to Musanze, a distance of 125.8km, Ndayisenga finished in 18th place, 46 seconds behind stage winner and teammate Metkel Eyob. With his win, Eyob moved to within 42 seconds behind leader Ndayisega in general classification while Ndayisenga continues to the wear best young rider jersey, best Rwandan and best African. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Ndayisenga aims to set Tour du Rwanda record