Rwanda’s Joseph Areruya has stormed the summit of the ongoing 2016 Tour du Rwanda general classification.
Stage 2: Kicukiro-Ngoma (96.6km)
1. Boivin Guillaume (Cycling Academy Team) 2h12’35’’2. Solomon Zemenfes (Eritrea National Team) 2h12’35’’3. Okubamariam Tesfom (Eritrea National Team) 2h12’35’’4. Buru Temesgen Mebrahtu (Ethiopia National Team) 2h12’35’’5. Eyob Metkel (Dimension Data) 2h12’35’’6. Jean-Claude Uwizeye (Les Amis Sportifs) 2h12’35’’7. Fournet Fayard Sébastien (Haute-Savoie/Rhone-Alpe) 2h12’35’’8. Afewerki Elyas (Eritrea National Team) 2h12’35’’9. Bussard Dimitri (Meubles Descartes Prod) 2h12’35’’10. Joseph Areruya Les Amis Sportifs) 2h12’35’’11. Paroz Justin (Meubles Descartes Prod) 2h12’35’’12. Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Stradalli - Bike Aid) 2h12’35’’
General Classification1. Joseph Areruya (Les Amis Sportifs) 2h16’38’’2. Boivin Guillaume (Cycling Academy Team) 2h16’39’’ 01’’3. Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Stradalli - Bike Aid) 2h16’39’’ ‘’4. Valens Ndayisenga (Dimension Data) 2h16’40’’ 02’’5. Buru Temesgen Mebrahtu (Ethiopia National Team) 2h16’44’’ 06’’6. Tesfom Okubamariam-Eriteria 2h16’45”7. Sebastien Fayard Fournet-Haute-Savoi/Rhone-Alpe 2h16’46”8. Hailay KibromGiday- Ethiopia 2h26’47”9. Justin Paroz- Meubls Descartes Prod 2h16’50”10. Eyob Metkel- Dimension Data for Qhubeka 2h16’50”
Rwanda’s Joseph Areruya has stormed the summit of the ongoing 2016 Tour du Rwanda general classification.
The Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana rider scooped the coveted yellow jersey yesterday after finishing 1oth during stage one -- kicukiro District to Ngoma District, a 96.8km race --, a day after he had emerged third in the prologue.
But the 22-year old has warned keeping the yellow jersey through the last day may not be easy, considering the competitiveness of the race.
The competition comes to a climax on november 20 after seven stages that will see the riders pedal their bikes across a significant part of the country.
Yesterday, it was Canadian Guillaume Boivin, riding for Cycling Academy Team of Israel, who won stage one by a small margin as over 17 riders finished with almost the same time (2h12’35’).
American Timothy Rugg, who won the prologue Sunday riding for Canada-based Team LowestRates, could only finish in 71st place out of 73 competitors in stage one, dropping to 72nd position in general classification and relinquishing the yellow jersey to Areruya.
Areruya completed yesterday’s race in 2h12’35.
"Wearing the yellow jersey in Tour du Rwanda means a lot for me and my teammates,” he said.
"It is a great motivation for the team, the competition is intense but we have to keep working as a team and try keep this jersey,” he added.
"Having said that, I am not so sure if I will be able to keep the yellow jersey to the end, but with the long climbs coming in the next stages, I think I have an advantage,” noted Areruya, who finished second in general classification last year, behind the winner and compatriot Jean-Bosco Nsengimana.
In a competitive sprinting finish, 16 riders including Rwandans Jean Claude Uwizeye, riding for South Africa’s Dimension Data, Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Stradalli Bike Aid of Germany), Gasore Hategeka of Team Rwanda, and 2014 champion Valens Ndayisenga (Dimension Data), all crossed the line with similar time.
Areruya, who finished third in the prologue stage on Sunday, three seconds behind Team LowestRates’ Timothy Rugg, took the race leadership in the general classification, Boivin is in second, while defending champion Nsengimana is third, followed by the Ndayisenga in fourth spot.
On top of the yellow jersey, Areruya also wears three more jerseys, including; the best African, Rwanda and young rider. Eritrean, Amanuel Meron of Bike Aid, leads in the mountain classification.
The top 20 riders in each stage will be sharing a cash prize of US$1,800 with the top five taking US$680, $340, $160, $90 and $80 respectively.
Areruya is among the 15 riders that have been selected by Rwanda Athletics Federation (FERWACY) to carry Rwanda’s flag during the 2016 competition.
On Tuesday, for stage two, the riders will start from Kigali Convention Centre to Karongi District in the Western Province, covering a total distance of 124 kilometers.
Canadian Guillaume Boivin of Cycling Academy Team of Israel pops champagne on his victory in Ngoma District, yesterday, helped by Skol Brewery commercial director, Mathias Bekangba.
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