Team Rwanda hailed after winning Tour du Congo

Rwanda Cycling Federation president showered Team Rwanda riders with praises after winning the 2013 Tour du Congo on their first attempt. Aimable Bayingana, speaking to Sunday Sport after the team’s return from DRC on Friday, said the team has done Rwanda proud. “They have done an excellent job on their debut appearance, we are happy that they did the country very proud, and we hope if the young riders continue to compete in as many continental competitions, it would give them confidence and experience,” said Bayingana. He added, “The boys and the whole team did their best under terrible condition and to come out on top as the best team in an international competition is a fantastic achievement, whoever contributed to it deserves credit.” Frenchman Clain Médéric won the Tour du Congo after winning five of the eight stages, but it was Team Rwanda, which was made up of four riders, that took the team prize. This eighth-stage tour dubbed “le Tour de l’Unité” (the Tour of Unity) is the very first tour organized in DR Congo which has witnessed pockets of internal conflicts for close to three decades. Team Rwanda won the event after having Emile Bintunimana finished on second position, Emmanuel Rudahunga came on fourth, Joseph Biziyaremye on fifth, and Hassan Rukundo finished on sixth positions respectively. Rudahunga won for the first stage, Biziyaremye took sixth stage, Bintunimana came on second position in four stages, while the Frenchman won five stages and the Congolese Dukua Bumba took the last stage. The Tour attracted teams from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Togo and France.