Reigning national road race champion Joseph Biziyaremye finished an impressive 29th at stage one of the Tour do Rio in Brazil from Rio to Angra dos Reis, a total distance of 158km.
Today, Stage 2Angra dos Reis to Valenca (175km)
Yesterday1. Oscar Sevilla (Metropolitana) 3:41:582. Cesar Gustavo Veloso (Quinta da Lixa) 3:41:583. Rafael Andriato (Southeast) 3:42:4929. Joseph Biziyaremye (Rwanda) 3:42:4933. Patrick Byukusenge (Rwanda) 3:45:2737. Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Rwanda) 3:54:2938. Joseph Aleluya (Rwanda) 3:56:0745. Janvier Hadi (Rwanda) 3:56:3346. Camera Hakuzimana (Rwanda) 3:56:33
Reigning national road race champion Joseph Biziyaremye finished an impressive 29th at stage one of the Tour do Rio in Brazil from Rio to Angra dos Reis, a total distance of 158km.
Biziyaremye was involved in a 28-man peloton sprint finish coming in 51 seconds after winner and reigning champion Oscar Sevilla (Metropolitana) and Cesar Gustavo Veloso (Quinta da Lixa), who settled for second at the 2.2 UCI America Tour event.
Team Rwanda Cycling coach Sterling Magnell told Times Sport from Rio de Janeiro that, "It was an inspiring performance. The course was difficult with cobblestones and dangerous with gaps in the road, holes, construction zones and road furniture. There were 20 times more hills than were in the technical guide.”
Youngster Camera Hakuzimana orchestrated a breakaway in the first 20km going into the first King of the Mountain zone before team captain Janvier Hadi joined in to lead the way upfront.
"The whole race was extremely fast and all but one breakaway was neutralized as Sevilla and Veloso were a minute ahead,” explained Magnell.
According to Magnell, debutant Joseph Aleluya was unfortunate to hit a road divider that broke his front wheel but team mechanic Jamie Bissell fixed it and the 19-year old posted 3:56:07 to finish 38th of the 84 riders who finished the race.
Meanwhile, Jean Bosco Nsengimana and Aleluya finished second and third in the U-23 category that is led by Brazilian Augusto Fernando Finkler who finished 22nd in the same peloton with Biziyaremye.
Today’s race starts from Angra dos Reis to Valenca, a total distance of 175km characterized with many hills.
"It starts with a very long hard climb, hoping Patrick and Bosco upfront and Biziyaremye for a good finish if his climbing legs are very good.
Now they know what they are up against with the competition so I think that will help them mentally,” revealed Magnell, a former US champion who has raced in the UCI America Tour in Argentina and Uruguay.
The American trainer also hopes his boys are safe and not involved in any incidents. "If we can stay with the leaders, a top 10 finish would be good progress,” he noted.
Team Rwanda Cycling is the only African team at the five-day long event.