Saturday, February 28 Stage 7: Musanze—Kigali Pelé Stadium—147km After thrilling racing across Rwanda’s upcountry regions, the 2026 Tour du Rwanda now heads to the capital for a decisive showdown in Kigali. The penultimate stage will see riders depart from Musanze and battle over 147 kilometers to the finish line at Kigali Pelé Stadium, located in the cycling-passionate neighborhood of Nyamirambo. With a demanding elevation gain of 2,190 meters, Stage 7 stands as the second-longest stage of this year’s edition—only behind the 174km opener from Rukomo to Rwamagana. Kigali Pelé Stadium previously hosted a stage finish in 2019 and now returns as the venue for what promises to be one of the most decisive battles of the race. From the start, riders will face an immediate test with the climb to Buranga before tackling the first categorized ascent at Tetero, 57 kilometers into the race. The route then winds through Gicumbi District, followed by a descent toward Cyamutara. From there, just 33.7 kilometers will remain before the peloton charges into Nyamirambo for the grand finish. Given how previous long-distance stages unfolded—where organized teams neutralized early breakaways—Stage 7 is likely to hinge on tactical discipline rather than solo heroics. Riders to Watch Moritz Kretschy (NSN Development Team) The current yellow jersey holder has led the general classification for three consecutive stages and shows no signs of relinquishing control. His team has demonstrated strong race management, making him the man everyone must challenge. Jurgen Zomermaand (Development Team Picnic PostNL) The 20-year-old Stage Three winner sits among the top six overall and remains a serious threat. With solid team backing, he could mount a late bid to shake up the standings. As things stand... After 747 kilometers of racing, only 64 riders remain from the original peloton, with 20 withdrawals recorded. Among them is Team Rwanda’s Shemu Nsengiyumva, who was forced to abandon due to illness. General classification (After Stage 6) Moritz Kretschy (NSN Development Team) – 17h 48’ Johannes Adamie (Rembe Rad-Net) – +2’02” Amaniel Desta (Team Amani) – +2’18” Duarte Marivoet (Lotto Groupe Wanty) – +2’32” Jurgen Zomermaand (Development Team Picnic PostNL) – +4’07”
