French cyclist Fabien Doubey of TotalEnergies was declared winner of the 17th edition of Tour du Rwanda without competing in the final stage (KCC-KCC) which was cancelled in the middle of the race due to bad weather conditions. Organisers had initially announced change in the routes which had been designated to be used in the final stage after the rain affected some parts of the City of Kigali. They then decided that the race wouldn't go through a large circuit, prompting athletes race in a smaller distance in four laps. The routes passing Nyabugogo, Norvege, Kimisagara and Kwa Mutwe were removed from the circuit and, as a result, riders used the routes starting from Kigali Convention Centre Gishushu- RDB- MTN HQ- Kabuga ka Nyarutarama- UTEXRWA road- Tennis Club road-Frontier-Gold Club (running route)- SOS- MINAGRI- Meridien- KBAC-RIB HQ- Kimicanga- Kimihurura- (Kwa Mignone)- Stone road- Kabindi- KABC- KCC (End). Heavy rain began around 11:30 AM, before the scheduled 12 PM start of the final stage which was 72km long. While the initial rain was not heavy enough to cancel the race, conditions worsened during the first lap. As the peloton approached the third lap, the rain intensified, forcing UCI officials to abandon the race according to UCI regulations. Consequently, the stage became null and void and the final results were determined based on the Stage 6 general classification. Doubey was leading the general classification going into the final stage on Sunday. He was awarded the victory based on results from the last six stages including Saturday’s Stage 6, which took place from Nyanza to Canal Olympia (Rebero). He was at the time ahead with a total duration of 19 hours, 35 minutes, and 12 seconds, six seconds ahead of Eritrea’s Henok Mulubrahan. With the victory, the 31-year-old rider becomes the oldest rider to win the Rwandan race. ALSO READ: Araya wins stage 6, Doubey retains yellow jersey Tour du Rwanda 2025 saw a strong performance from Rwandan rider Vainqueur Masengesho (Team Rwanda), who finished seventh overall, 51 seconds behind race winner Doubey. Other Rwandan riders who were recognized include Shemu Nsengiyumva of Java-InovoTec who won the best climber award while Samuel Niyonkuru of Kenyan Team Amani was awarded the best breakaway rider.
