TEAM RWANDA riders were among the 128 competitors who failed to finish the 164km men’s road race held on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Glasgow, Scotland. One hundred and forty riders started the grueling race but only 12 elite riders managed to reach the finish line. Janvier Hadi, Gasore Hategeka, Valens Ndayisenga, Adrien Niyonshuti, Jean Bosco Nsengimana, and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana didn’t make it to the finish line but managed to bow out without any injuries. Head coach Felix Senkoma told Times Sport from the athletes’ village last night that the race had many tough attributes that forced many to abandon it. “It’s only elite riders who usually compete in Tour du France that managed to handle and finish. The routes were very muddy, grueling and it was held on a rainy day,” Senkoma said. Wales’ Geraint Thomas won the Commonwealth Games road race in fashion as he survived a puncture with six kilometres to go, clocking 4:13:05. Craven Dan from Namibia is the only African rider who managed to finish the race in the ninth place after nine minutes and three seconds behind Thomas. New Zealand’s Jack Bauer edged out Scott Thwaites of England on the line to claim the silver medal. Power lifting Rwanda’s Theogene Hakizimana, who was making his debut in the Commonwealth games, finished eighth in the Men’s heavyweight Group. He secured 158.1 points after managing to lift 173kg in three attempts. The Rwandan contingent to Glasgow return back to Kigali on Tuesday without any medal.
