By Geoffrey Asiimwe

Tour du Cameroun 2018 Today Stage two: Kribi - Douala (175.7 km)

Saturday – stage 1 1. Clovis Kamzong (SVN Velo Club) – 3:50:04 2. Patrick Byukusenge (Rwanda) – 3:50:04 3. Nathan Pernot (Martiques SC) – 3:50:04

Other Rwandans 15. Jean Paul René Ukiniwabo – 3:50:04 28. Bonaventure Uwizeyimana – 3:50:04 40. Janvier Hadi – 3:50:14 41. Didier Munyaneza – 3:50:14 45. Jean Bosco Nsengimana – 3:50:16

Team Rwanda Cycling got off to a fairly promising start at the ongoing 15th Tour du Cameroon that started on Saturday. The 2.2 UCI category race will run through June 3.

Reigning Rwanda Cycling Cup champion Patrick Byukusenge put on a strong performance to finish in second position in stage one, on a 154.4km ride from Pouma to Kribi. Cameroonian cyclist Clovis Kamzong claimed in a sprint photo finish of a total of 38 riders.

Kamzong clocked a total time of 3 hours, 50 minutes and 4 seconds, the same time that the rest of the 38 riders posted.

On the other hand, 2015 Tour du Rwanda champion Jean Bisco Nsengimana won the King of the Mountains Jersey despite finishing in the 45th spot, 12 seconds behind stage winner Kamzong.

"This is a good start. When you look at the gap after Stage One, the difference is very small. We are going to try doing better in the next stages.” Team Rwanda coach Sempoma toldSunday Sport after the opening stage on Saturday night.

The race has attracted a total 56 riders representing ten different teams. Three cyclists failed to complete stage one yesterday, which leaves the race with a 53-member peloton going into today’s Stage Two from Kribi to Douala – a distance of 175.7 kilometers.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw