Spanish rider Pau Soriano Martí produced a powerful sprint finish in Huye to edge Eritrea’s Henok Mulubrhan and win Stage Two of the Tour du Rwanda on Monday. The 21-year-old, riding for NSN Development Team, completed the 134.6km stage from Nyamata to Huye in 3 hours, 10 minutes and 10.30 seconds (3:10:10.30), narrowly beating Mulubrhan by milliseconds in a dramatic dash to the line. Mauro Cuylits of Lotto–Groupe Wanty finished third. The victory sealed back-to-back stage wins for NSN Development Team after Itamar Einhorn triumphed in the opening stage from Rukomo to Rwamagana on Sunday. Following the team’s dominant display, Einhorn handed over the yellow jersey to his teammate Martí. “The stage was quite easy. The team rode amazingly, controlling the breakaways perfectly. They put me in a very good position to win,” Martí said after his victory in Huye. Early breakaway reeled in The stage saw an early breakaway inside the opening nine kilometres when Miguel Heidemann (Rembe), Bruno Martins (Localiza Moro) and Erasmus Alexander attacked from the peloton. The trio held their advantage for much of the race, but with 10 kilometres remaining, the peloton — driven by the Eritrean national team, NSN Development Team and Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team — gradually reeled them in to set up a bunch sprint finish in Huye. Among the home riders, Shemu Nsengiyumva of Team Rwanda narrowly missed out on a top-10 finish, crossing the line in 13th place. Stage 2 results Marti Soriano Pau (NSN Development Team) – 3h 10’10” Henok Mulubrhan (Eritrea) – +0.02” Mauro Cuylits (Lotto–Groupe Wanty) – +0.13” Muñoz Gabina Hodei (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team) – +0.43” Van Gils Lucas (Lotto–Groupe Wanty) – +0.54”
