Itamar Einhorn won the first stage of the Tour du Rwanda 2024 by dominating the final sprint in Kibeho after 129,4 kilometres of racing. The Israel-Premier Tech national champion easily beat young Belgian William Junior Lecerf, one of the favourites for the final classification next Sunday.
Meanwhile, it was one of Chris Froome’s team-mates, Itamar Einhorn, who put on a show at the end of a very fast finish in front of thousands of enthusiastic spectators. This first stage had already seen two Rwandans and a Mauritian shine.
Didier Munyaneza of the Rwandan national team, Shemu Nsengiyumva of the Rwandan continental UCI May Stars team and Alexandre Mayer of the Mauritius national team had attacked from the very first kilometres and their lead had reached a maximum of 8’15”.
After sixty kilometres of racing, the peloton finally reacted with the Soudal-Quickstep, Lotto-Dstny and Israel-Premier Tech teams to reduce the gap.
Alexandre Mayer was the last of the breakaway riders to resist, but he was caught with 15 kilometres to go and despite several attacks in the final stages, it was the grouped peloton that arrived in Kibeho for a brilliant sprint won by Itamar Einhorn, who also took the yellow jersey.
Tomorrow the riders will reach Rusizi from Huye over a distance of 140,3 kilometres
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