Byukusenge Nathan, the Team Rwanda captain is having an excellent race after moving up to 19th place overall at the ongoing La Tropicale Amissi Bongo cycling tour in Gabon.The experienced rider did a wonderful job coming 15th in the 109km stage four (Oyem-Mitzic) on Thursday, clocking 02h28’12””1’. Overall, he has clocked 11h20’03”, 01’04” minutes behind the race leader in the Yellow Jersey Andrea Francesco Palini of Italy.And newcomer, Hassan Rukundo, who is in 44th place only 3’38” out of the top. That is huge after 4 days of racing. Rukundo is currently ahead of John Njoroge, who finished 3rd at the 2012 Tour of Rwanda. Ndayisenga Valens, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana and Nsegiyumva Jean Bosco all got caught in a crash with only 15kms to go in Stage 3 which cost them the time, however, the later, was in the breakaway in the fourth stage on Thursday, and was only caught with 2km left in the race.Frenchman Adrien Petit won the stage in 02h28’12”, followed by the Italian rider wearing the Yellow Jersey Palini and the Spanish Vicente Reynes in third. According Kimberly Coats, the Director of Marketing/Logistics Team Rwanda Cycling, “The riders are riding a tactical race and we are very pleased with the newcomers’ performance, and Nathan’s (Byukusenge) leadership with these new riders.”
