Kretschy dedicates Tour du Rwanda 2026 victory to late grandfather

Tour du Rwanda 2026 winner Moritz Kretschy delivered an emotional tribute after sealing overall victory in Kigali, dedicating the achievement to his late grandfather who passed away two years ago. The 23-year-old German conquered what he described as a brutal eight-day, 993-kilometre race in a total time of 23 hours, 8 minutes and 48 seconds. Johannes Adamietz of Rembe Rad-Net emerged as his closest challenger for the yellow jersey but ultimately finished two minutes and eight seconds behind in the general classification. “This was an amazing journey with my teammates because we came here to win, but above all, we did it in honour of my beloved grandfather,” Kretschy said after Sunday’s finale on the same circuit used during the UCI Road World Championships. Despite finishing 25th on the final stage—claimed by Eritrean ace Henok Mulubrhan—the NSN Development Team rider successfully defended the yellow jersey he had taken over after Stage Four in Rubavu. Kretschy’s teammates played a crucial role in protecting his lead, particularly amid strong competition from Israeli rider Itamar Einhorn. Einhorn contributed significantly to the team’s campaign by winning both the opening stage and Stage 6. Reflecting on the race, Kretschy summed it up in simple but powerful terms, saying, “The race was tough, hot, with high humidity, and an amazing crowd. The whole NSN Development Team was incredible. Without them, I wouldn’t be standing in this position.” On his part, Einhorn said the team executed its strategy effectively from the outset. “We started the race with a sprint win from my side. The second day was for our teammate Pau Soriano Martí. Even though we missed out on Stage 3, we bounced back strongly from Stage 4 until the end,” he said. “Beyond all progress, I’m super proud of Kretschy — not only for making us proud, but also for his patience and consistency until the end.” Einhorn, who finished 58th overall, also extended condolences to families affected by a tragic accident during the opening stage, when a vehicle in the race caravan crashed, claiming two lives and injuring six others. “I heard about the heartbreaking news one hour after finishing. Everyone deserves to stay safe. I send my condolences to the families who lost their loved ones,” he said. Tour du Rwanda 2026 award winners Overall winner: Moritz Kretschy (NSN Development Team) Best Rwandan rider: Samuel Niyonkuru (Team Amani) Best Young rider: Duarte Marivoet (Lotto Group Wanty) Best African rider: Amaniel Desta (Team Amani) Best climber: Miguel Heidmann (Rembe Rad-Net) Best young African rider: Amaniel Desta (Team Amani) Longest breakaway: Awet Aman (Istanbul Team) Best Team: Lotto Group Wanty

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Kretschy dedicates Tour du Rwanda 2026 victory to late grandfather