Eric Manizabayo who rides for Benediction Ignite, on Saturday clinched the second edition of the Kibugabuga cycling race after outsprinting Renus Byiza Uhiriwe to the finish line at GS Kamabuye in Bugeser District.It took the 24-year-old rider 2 hours 50 minutes 25 seconds to cross the finish line in the men’s elite category during which he covered a distance of 116 km.He finished top of the race, which had previously been won by Samuel Mugisha last year, despite clocking the same time as Uhiriwe who emerged second. Patrick Byukusenge finished third using 2 hours 54 minutes and 10 seconds in the process.“I have won but it was not an easy race at all from the beginning. I tried to escape the leading peloton alone but it didn’t work. I had to convince my teammate with whom we were in the same peloton to help me win today’s race and I agreed to help him the other way round to win a race next time. Here I am with the victory,” he told journalists after the race.Besides Manizabayo triumph in men’s elite category, Hakimu Tuyizere of Les Amis Sportifs won the 86km men junior race using 2hours minutes and 14 seconds.It was a solo ride for the youngster who finished 3 minutes and 1 second ahead of his teammate Jean Bosco Mushinzimana while Benediction Club’s Nshimiyimana Phocas emerged third with the same time gap.Meanwhile, Jacqueline Tuyishime emerged winner in the women’s elite category after covering a distance of 86km in 2hours 9 minutes and 15 seconds while 17-year-old Aline Uwera covered the same distance in 2hours 11minutes and 54 seconds to win the women junior race.Organised by Rwanda Cycling Federation (Ferwacy) in partnership with Bugesera District, the annual race brought together male and female cyclists in both elite and juniors categories representing 13 teams including Ferwacy member clubs and continental teams.Elite riders in men’s categories started the race from Kabuga in Kicukiro District while men juniors and women raced 86km starting from Nyanza in Kicukiro District.The finish line for both races was GS Kamabuye in Nyarugenge Sector, Bugesera District.Samuel Mugisha, Valens Iradukunda and Josiane Mukashema triumphed the inaugural edition race last year in men, juniors and women categories respectively.ItinerariesMen’s elite: Kabuga-Masaka Hospital-Inyange Industries-Kabuga Demob-Kanombe Military Hospital-Busanza-Rubirizi-Kabea Modern Market-Ecole Saint Joseph-IPRC Kicukiro-Kicukiro Centre-Nyanza-Gahanga-Nyamata-Ramiro-Kamabuye-Ruhuha-Nyarugenge (GS Kamabuye).Men Juniors and women: Nyanza-Gahanga-Ramiro-Kamabuye-Ruhuha-Nyarugenge(GS Kamabuye).
