Saturday
Stage 7: Bugesera – Kigali (84.1km)
Friday
Stage 6
1. Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz – 2:49:57
2. Pablo Muiño Torres – 2:50:01
3. Youcef Renguigui – 2:50:01
4. Henok Mulueberham – 2:50:01
5. Julien Trarieux – 2:50:01
7. Samuel Mugisha – 2:50:01
8. Valens Ndayisenga – 2:50:01
11. Joseph Areruya – 2:51:16
24. Merhawi Kudus - 2:51:16
General classification
1. Merhawi Kudus – 20:24:53
2. Rein Taaramae – 20:25:10
3. Matteo Badilatti – 20:25:38
4. Ricardo Aguirre Hernan – 20:25:53
5. Sirak Tesfom – 20:29:07
8. Didier Munyaneza – 20:30:33
9. Valens Ndayisenga – 20:30:28
11. Joseph Areruya – 20:31:30
20. Samuel Mugisha – 20:38:23
36. Jean Bosco Nsengimana – 20:56:37
Astana Pro Team’s Eritrean Merhawi Kudus remained safe in the yellow jersey as Polish rider Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz claimed Stage 6 of the 2019 Tour du Rwanda in Bugesera on Friday.
Riding for French side Delko Marseille Provence, the 25-year old clocked 2 hours, 49 minutes and 47 seconds to win cover the 121.1km from Musanze, in Northern Province, to Bugesera in Eastern Province.
Kasperkiewicz was the second Delko Marseille rider to win a Tour du Rwanda stage this year, and the first Polish to do so in the race’s history.
Despite finishing in 24th position, one minute and nineteen seconds behind the stage victor, Kudus (20:24:53) was in the main group to ensure he holds on to his 17-second lead over second-placed Rein Taaramae (Direct Energie) going into Saturday’s penultimate stage.
It was a tough day for Thursday’s Stage 5 winner Girmay Hailu Biniam as the Eritrean youngster, 18, only managed a 30th spot.
Reigning champion Samuel Mugisha and two-time winner Valens Ndayisenga were the only two Rwandans in top ten on Friday; in 7th and 8th position, respectively, just three seconds adrift of the winner.
"After this victory against professional sprinters, I can’t think of better birthday celebration. It is a great job and I look forward to vying for more stage wins,” Kasperkiewics who turned 25 on Friday told Saturday Sport after winning Stage 6 in Bugesera District.
The Polish sprinter is in 41st position in general classification, a whopping 40 minutes and 35 seconds behind race leader Kudus.
Team Rwanda youngster Moise Mugisha remained in the Cogebank jersey as the King of the Mountains (KoM) while Torres Muiño Pablo, who finished second in Stage 6, took the Rwanda Tea jersey for most aggressive rider of the day.
The best sprinter of the day was Rohan Du Proy who rides for South Africa’s Pro Touch while Didier Munyaneza kept his two jerseys for the best young rider and best Rwandan rider.
Saturday’s Stage 7 sees the riders take on the second-shortest stage of the 959.1km race, a 84.1km ride from Nyamata, in Bugesera, to the Central Business District in Kigali.
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