Moments after winning the 2015 Tour du Rwanda cycling race on Sunday, Team Rwanda riders paid tribute to President Paul Kagame for his support, which they said was the single most important factor behind their continued rise.
Jean Bosco Nsengimana of Team Rwanda (Karisimbi) won this year’s race clocking 23h54’50, having ensured that the iconic yellow jersey remained his throughout the entire eight-day international competition.
Following last year’s triumph in the same competition that was then won by Valens Ndayisenga, President Kagame hosted Team Rwanda stars to a dinner at Kigali Serena Hotel during which he offered to buy them state-of-the-art bikes. Indeed the President honoured his promise two months ago, delivering 18 road bikes and eight time trial bikes – giving the team a major boost ahead of the 2015 Tour du Rwanda.
Nsengimana is one of the four Rwandans that finished in top five, with Joseph Areruya (Team Akagera) coming in second having used 23h56’35’’, while Camera Hakuzimana (Rwanda Muhabura – 23h57’35’’) and Patrick Byukusenge (Team Karisimbi –23h57’54’’) coming in third and fifth place respectively.
Eritrean Eyob Metkel (Team Bike-Aid) finished in fourth having clocked 23h57’52’’ for the entire race.
Following Nsengimana’s triumph yesterday, all the riders of the three Team Rwanda clubs celebrated on the podium together, waving a message, “We thank you Mr. President, this victory is yours”.
The race winner Nsengimana said: “This is a great moment for me but it is also the result of the work of the whole team and the support from our beloved President, Paul Kagame”.
“My teammates and I worked so hard to win this year’s Tour du Rwanda and we dedicate this win to the President, as a reward for his continued support,” Nsengimana said on crossing the finish line at the end of State Seven at Amahoro stadium in Remera – in front of thousands of adoring fans.
He added: “I am excited and I thank President Kagame for the gifts (bikes) he has given us which helped us win this Tour. He has been there for us. I am also thankful to my teammates, my coaches, federation, the National Police, our supporters and everyone who else who has been there for us.”
“The whole country has been behind us. Every day I would wake up with a conviction that we can do it because of them. Many people lined up the streets to encourage us and I am happy that we have indeed done it,” explained the 22-year old rider, who becomes the second Rwandan to win Tour du Rwanda since it became a UCI Africa 2.2 category in 2009.
Last year’s winner, Ndayisenga, who withdrew from the just-concluded race on stage five due to illness, saluted Nsengimana. “I am happy for him. Last year he helped me to win the race and, this year I also tried to give him my support, unfortunately, I couldn’t complete the Tour.”
The 22-year old romped to victory after a consistent display over the seven stages of the Tour to enter history books as the second Rwandan after Ndayisenga to win the competition, and the first to lead the eight-day race from start to finish.
Nsengimana won the prologue before winning two stages, Kigali-Musanze (102.7km) and Rubavu-Kigali (156.5km).
The newly crowned Tour du Rwanda champion went home with US$1800 (about Rwf1,350,000) besides the much coveted yellow jersey. He also bagged US$320 for winning the prologue and US$1280 for the two stages he also won.
He also received a cheque worth Rwf1 million from Cogebanque for winning the Tour, taking his total earning from the competition to Rwf4,651,800.
The first overall all runner-up Team Rwanda Akagera’s Joseph Arerura, 19, received Rfw500, 000 and Canal+ subscription for a whole year (a bouquet is about Rwf90,000 a month) courtesy of Canal+.
Rwandans dominated the race since last Sunday, leaving no chance to their opponents from especially Eritrea, Morocco and France.
“The Rwandans’ pace was great and they enjoyed the advantage of knowing the roads,” said Jérémy Bescond, a former French professional rider.
Nsengimana also won the award for the best African, best Rwandan and best young rider while Eritrea Amanuel Gebrezgabihier was named best mountain climber. Nsengimana and Areruya were among named among the best five climbers.
Rwanda’s Sports and Culture minister Julienne Uwacu said: “Congratulations Team Rwanda, winning Tour du Rwanda for the second time is a result of hard work, team spirit and concentration.”
Since 2009, Eritrea has won sixteen Tour du Rwanda stage wins, following by Rwanda with 10 stage wins, Morocco (9) and South Africa with 8.
The New Times
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