Kudus who claimed the yellow jersey after his stage two; Kigali-Huye before stretching the lead during stage three; Huye-Rubavu retained until the final day having used 12h12’37” while Taaramae came second with 24h12’47” while Matteo Badilatti of Israel Cycling Academy took the third place with 24h12’55”.
Despite a very frustrating penultimate stage performance from the Eritrean 25-year old star in which he crashed and lost 10 seconds on his lead on the general classification, he managed to keep his composure during the gruesome 61.7km which had a total of three laps on the famous cobbled wall of Kigali and managed to finish ahead of his closest contender Taaramae Rein from Direct Energie by 10 seconds.
The inaugural edition of Tour du Rwanda as a 2.1 UCI category race, and its 11th edition overall, featured the longest stage in the UCI Africa Tour race’s history – and a record elevation of 19,336 meters, with 78 cyclists from 16 teams.
Individual Classification
1. Kudus Merhawi (Astana pro team): 24:12’37’’
2. Taaramae Rein (Direct Energie): 24:12’47’’
3. Badilatti Matteo (Israel cycling Academy): 24:12’55’’
4. Aguirre Caipa Hernan Ricardo (Interpro Cycling Academy): 24:13’08’’
5. Tesfom Sirak (Érythrée): 24:16’41’’
6. Lozano Riba David (Team novo nordisk): 24:17’27’’
7. Debesay Abreham Yakob (Érythrée): 24:19’28’’
8. Kangangi Suleiman (Kenya): 24:19’42’’
9. Areruya Joseph (Delko Marseille Provence): 24:19’47’’
10.Contreras Pinzon Rodrigo (Astana pro team): 24:19’48’’
Best Riders Awarded
The Skol jersey was given to the stage winner; Rodrigo Contreras Pinzón (Astana Pro Team)
The Yellow jersey was given by Miniscop to Merhawi Kudus (Astana Pro Team)
The Cogebanque jersey is awarded to the best hilly rider, Debesay Yakob (Érythrée)
The jersey for the rider with the highest sprint offered by SP was given to Du Plooy Rohan (Pro-Touch)
The jersey for the best competitor offered by Rwanda Tea was given to Mugisha Moise (Team Rwanda)
The jersey for the top African at the front, offered by Rwanda Air was given to Merhawi Kudus (Astana Pro Team, Érythrée)
The jersey for the nearest Rwandan, offered by RBA was awarded to Areruya Joseph (Delko Marseille Provence)
The Jersey for Best Team was awarded by Inyange Industries to Eritrea
Stage 8 of 2019 Tour du Rwanda in Pictures
For more Pictures, click here.
Pictures: Moses Niyonzima
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