After Sunday’s opening — and longest — stage of Tour du Rwanda 2026 concluded in Rwamagana with a powerful sprint victory for Itamar Einhorn, attention now shifts to Stage Two which, although shorter in distance, promises to be equally demanding. Riders will depart Nyamata town in Bugesera District at 12pm, heading to Huye District for a 135-kilometre stage featuring an elevation gain of 2,074 metres. ALSO READ: Itamar Einhorn wins stage one in Rwamagana The peloton will first cover 40 kilometres to reach the initial feed zone in Kamabuye. From there, they will continue for 31 kilometres toward Busoro in Nyanza District before tackling the first categorised climb in Nyamiyaga. The ascent stretches over 12.4 kilometres before the race heads into Nyanza town, setting up what is expected to be an intense and tactical finale into Huye. With a long distance to be covered before the first major climb, intermediate time bonuses are expected to play a crucial role. Rather than waiting for a summit finish, general classification contenders may begin launching attacks from the early kilometres. Under the current rules, the first rider to cross designated intermediate sprint points earns a 10-second time bonus, deducted from their overall race time. This advantage can prove decisive, especially if a large group finishes together. Even when multiple riders are credited with the same finishing time, time bonuses can create gaps in the general classification. A similar scenario unfolded in Stage One, where Einhorn capitalised on time bonuses to claim the yellow jersey. Seventy riders finished in the same time, resulting in no natural gaps in the overall standings. Although African riders missed out on the podium on the opening day, Eritrean cyclists — renowned for their sprinting strength — could bounce back and pose a serious threat in Stage Two. Mewael Girmay of the Istanbul Team and Team Eritrea’s Henok Mulubrhan, the 2023 Tour du Rwanda champion, are among the riders to watch as the race moves into a more mountainous profile. With climbing sections and valuable bonus seconds at stake, Stage Two is expected to reshape the general classification and test both sprinters and climbers alike.
