Stage three Classification
1. Henok Mulueberhan (GBF) 5h13'37''
2. William Lecerf (SQD) 5h13'37''
3. Anatolii Budiak (TSG) 5h13'39''
4. Victor De La Parte (TEN) 5h13'44''
5. Walter Calzoni (Q36)) 5h13'48''
General Classification
1. Henok Mulueberhan (GBF) 11h20'59''
2. William Lecerf (SQD) 11h20'59''
3. Anatolii Budiak (TSG) 11h21'01''
4. Victor De La Parte (TEN) 11h21'06''
5. Walter Calzoni (Q36) 11h21'10''
Team Rwanda rider Jean Bosco Nsengimana insisted he won’t give up on the Tour du Rwanda 2023 yellow jersey and vowed to fight for it until the last minute.
The 31-year-old yet another dominant breakaway lead early in the stage from Huye to Musanze, thanks to which he was recognized as the best rider breakaway.
However, his lack of backup from his Team Rwanda fellow riders cost him the stage as he found himself unable to cope with the pressure of the peloton in the last 3km when he was caught by the bunch and ended up losing ground to eventual stage winner Henok Mulueberhan.
ALSO READ: Tour du Rwanda: Mulueberhane storms to Yellow Jersey after stage 3 win
He may have finished the stage the way he never wished for but Nsengimana still has hopes of impressing in the remaining five stages, including Wednesday’s 138.5 kilometers Stage Four from Musanze - Karongi, and finish the race triumphant.
"I am prepared well and I feel strong to give my best in every stage. I have been training hard in Rwanda, which I think is the only way that will help me to do well. It is a very competitive race but I am still confident. It’s not over yet,” Nsengimana noted.
ALSO READ: Nsengimana delighted after landmark Tour du Rwanda selection
Stage four starts in Musanze heading to Karongi and jersey holder Mulueberhan of the Italian side Green Project-Bardiani will be looking to extend his lead after a tightly-contested stage Three triumph in Musanze, his first stage in the Tour of Rwanda and the 26th for his country.
The African champion, freshly titled for a week in Accra, Ghana, dominated the sprint in the streets of Musanze, the capital of Rwandan cycling.
The peloton arrived very small before the final line, after a very long stage of 199, 5 kilometres the longest of this 2023 edition.
The 23-year-old was the main actor of this very active final and he took his responsibilities. When he grabbed the yellow jersey that Ethan Vernon dropped, he knew that his time had come.
But Nsengimana is also optimistic that there is still hope to close the gap left by Mulueberhan ahead of Stage Four and hence restore hopes of winning the race.
"Yes, I am in high spirit to give my best for my team and for this stage I will try to play well as I did in the first and third stages to help my country,” he said.
Eric Muhoza, who rides for German side Bike Aid, was the best Rwandan on Tuesday, crossing the finish-line in 14th place, in a group of riders who finished 11 seconds behind stage winner Mulueberhane.
Eyes are on the rider who currently sits 10th on the general classification, trailing 11 seconds off the top and Rwandans would wish to see him end victorious although he plays for a foreign team.
Meanwhile, like Carl Fredrik Hagen (PRO Cycling Team), Lucas Dauge (TEAM Novo Nordisk), Joonas Kurits and Imad Sekkak (Morocco) won’t be part of Wednesday’s peloton to Karongi after they abandoned from the race on Tuesday.
Stage Three prize winners
1. Yellow Jersey holder: Henok Mulueberhan (Green Project)
2. Best Climber: Marc Oliver Pritzen (EF Education-Nippo)
3. Best Young Rider: Lecerd William Junior (Soudal Quick Step)
4. Best Sprinter: James Fouche (Bolton Equities Black Spoke)
5. Stage winner: Henok Mulueberhan (Green Project)
6. Best Rwandan Rider: Eric Muhoza (Bike Aid)
7. Best African Rider: Henok Mulueberhan (Green Project)
8. Best Combative Rider: Marc Oliver Pritzen (EF Education-Nippo)
9. Best in Breakaway: Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Team Rwanda)
10. Best Team of the Stage: Soudal Quick Step Devo Team).