Israeli rider Itamar Einhorn of Israel Premier Tech became the first rider to win two stages at Tour du Rwanda 2024 after claiming Stage Seven on Saturday.

Itamar covered 158 kilometers from Rukomo to Kayonza, the longest stage of the entire race, in 3 hours 29 minutes and 57 seconds. It was his second stage victory of the race, having won Stage Two from Muhanga to Kibeho on Monday, February 19.

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The stage was again dominated by Israel Premier Tech team whose rider Peter Joseph Blackmore, Einhorn’s teammate, retained the race leader’s yellow jersey, despite finishing in 10th position in stage seven, 47 seconds behind the stage winner.

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The Briton is just one stage away from winning Tour du Rwanda 2024, as he continues to lead the race on general classification with 15 hours, 31 minutes and nine seconds. He is 11 seconds clear of second-placed Ilkhan Dostiyev of Astana Qazaqstan Development Team while William Lecerf Junior (Polti Kometa) sits third with 13 seconds adrift.

Stage Seven had no much breathing room. It was a rather busy one from the very start in Rukomo.

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Blackmore is aware that he won’t celebrate his yellow jersey until Sunday’s decisive Stage Eight which will take place entirely in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, partly retracing the route that will host the 2025 UCI Road World Championship.

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For this particular final stage, 73.6 kilometers are planned with two laps on the Kigali circuit which also include a dirt section, to then face again Mont Kigali and the Mur de Kigali which will establish the victorious runner of this intense and non-trivial stage race.