Israel Premier Tech star rider Peter Joseph Blackmore rode his way to the Kigali Convention Centre performing a spectacular wheelie bike celebration across the line after winning Sunday’s final stage on a solo sprint to cement his Tour du Rwanda 2024 glory.
The Briton succeeds Eritrean Henok Mulueberhane who won it last year. He wasn’t able to defend it after suffering a shoulder injury.
It has been a wonderful week for Blackmore who turned 21 on Friday, the same day he took the yellow jersey away from then holder William Junior Lecerf, after winning Stage Six from Musanze to Mount Kigali, and he never lost it ever since as he held onto winning the race overall.
He won Stage 8 after covering 73.3kilometers in 1 hour, 47 minutes and 37 seconds, 30 seconds clear of Pierre Latour of TotalEnergies, Ilkhan Dostiyev, William Junior Lecerf, Jhonathan Restrepo, Brieuc Rolland and Fabien Doubey.
ALSO READ: A sneak peek into Tour du Rwanda 2024 stages
Moise Mugisha of Java-InovoTec crossed the finish line 46 seconds later in 12th position while Team Rwanda’s Eric Manizabayo emerged 17th with 53 seconds behind the stage winner.
ALSO READ: Tour du Rwanda: Soudal Quick-Step win Team Time Trial as Vervenne takes yellow jersey
Blackmore launched a blistering attack in the final kilometers before taking a solo sprint to Kigali to win the stage which incorporated parts of the route that will be used in next year’s UCI Road World Championships.
The youngster rode beyond his age in the final kilometer, most notably when he calmly responded to an acceleration before timing his sprint to perfection.
ALSO READ: Team Rwanda ‘ready’ to give best at Tour du Rwanda 2024, says coach Louvet
The British rider had never won a UCI race previously, nor led any part of one. He adds two stage victories and the general classification triumph to a flourishing palmarès that already includes national off-road titles.
He becomes the 14th rider to win Tour du Rwanda since it became an international event in 2009.
ALSO READ: Team Rwanda ‘ready’ to give best at Tour du Rwanda 2024, says coach Louvet
It's a race that started with pace but Israel Premier-Tech did all they could to play for their yellow jersey holder to make sure he wouldn't lose it.
During the first few miles, seven athletes tried to escape but the peloton soon caught them back.
CMC's Grmay once again broke away from the pack to lead the race and was able to spend most of his time in the lead alone. Rwandans Patrick Byukusenge and Samuel Niyonkuru also came out of the group to charge Simon Julien, Torres and Dillon Geary who were in front, but later they were brought back.
READ ALSO: Mountain Bike for young cyclists launched in Bugesera
When they were nearing the end of Mont Kigali, all the athletes were together, but when they started to descend from Nyamirambo towards Kimisagara, Dostiyev and Lecerf (then second and fourth in the general classification) as well as Gomez left the group but their effort wasn’t successful.
While climbing ‘Kwa Mutwe’, Blackmore started to leave the group followed by Restrepo but the latter was left behind as Lecerf did.
ALSO READ: Riders to watch at Tour du Rwanda 2024
Since then, Blackmore led the race alone and managed to add a 30-second gap to the Kigali Convention Center, receiving standing ovation from cheering cycling enthusiasts before the national anthem of the United Kingdom "God Save the King" was sung.
He clinched Tour du Rwanda 2024 after using 17 hours, 18 minutes and 46 seconds, 41 seconds ahead of second-placed Astana's Ilkhan Dostiyev and 43 seconds of Jhonatan Restrepo of Polti-Kometa while William Junior Lecerf of Soudal Quick Step Devo Team finished in fourth position, 1 minute and 25 seconds behind.
READ ALSO: Four new teams added to Tour du Rwanda 2024 lineup
The closest Rwandan was Eric Manizabayo (Rwanda) who emerged 15th, five minutes and 13 seconds behind the winner while Vainqueur Masengesho and Moise Mugisha finished 18th and 20th respectively.
The top African rider was Eritrean Yemane Dawit who finished 10th. Yemane plays for German Team Bike Aid.
Israel Premier Tech was the best team overall after winning four of the eight stages including two from Itimar Einhorn (2nd and 7th) and two more from race winner Blackmore (6th and 8th).
ALSO READ: Nsengimana dropped from Java Inovotec roster for Tour du Rwanda 2024
Tour du Rwanda 2024 attracted 94 riders from 19 teams but only 63 riders managed to finished the 718.9km race, the shortest-ever since 2009.