Rusizi 16 November 2016 – Timothy Rugg won today his second stage in four days after his success last Sunday in Kigali during the prologue but without upsetting the general classement still led by Rwandan Valens Ndayisenga.
The American of the Canadian Team Lowestrates waited until the last climb to play his personal card. He returned initially to the two riders escaped since the start of the stage in Karongi, the Frenchman Sebastien Fournet-Fayard of the team of Haute-Savoie and the young climber of Rwanda Samuel Mugisha who had had a maximum of 4’10 ”, before attacking a second time four kilometers before the finish.
At that time the yellow jersey Valens Ndayisenga who had gone back to the top of the race could still hope to win his second stage in two days but the American still had strength in the legs to resist and win a great success on a difficult stage.
Valens Ndayisenga was relieved after the arrival of being able to save his leader’s jersey. “We had a lot of difficulty to control the race,” he said. Fortunately we managed to get back on the two front riders and especially the Frenchman who became dangerous to me in the overall standings. This is the proof that the Tour of Rwanda is a difficult race to win and nothing has been done before the arrival in Kigali on Sunday.”
THE WINNER
Timothy Rugg had never won a race since the beginning of his career. At the age of 30, the American compensated this lack since the departure of Kigali Sunday by winning two stages. After the prologue time trial last Sunday, we saw him today at his ease on a mountain stage. “Everything succeeds me since Sunday, it is happiness for me,” he said. “I was very tired yesterday after the first day in the mountains but today I wanted to try my luck. I felt better all along the kilometers. I was not sure I succeeded but I believe that Rwanda brings me luck. I have seen great moments here since Sunday,” added.
STAGE 3 CLASSEMENT
1 – Timothy Rugg (USA – Team Lowestrates.ca)
2 – Joseph Areruya (Rwanda – Les Amis Sportifs) at 2’’
3 – Metkel Eyob (Eritrea – Dimension Data for Qhubeka) at 2’’
4 – Tesfom Okubamariam (Eritrea – National Team of Eritrea) at 2’’
5 – Patrick Byusenge (Rwanda – Club Benediction) at 10’’
GENERAL CLASSEMENT
1 – Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda – Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
2 – Joseph Areruya (Rwanda – Les Amis Sportifs) at 1’16’’
3 – Tesfom Okubamariam (Eritrea – National Team of Eritrea) à 1’23’’
4 – Jean-Bosco Nsengimana (Rwanda – Stradalli-Bike Aid) à 1’26’’
5 – Metkel Eyob (Eritrea – Dimension Data for Qhubeka) à 1’28’’
JERSEYS
GENERAL CLASSEMENT, sponsorised by MINISPOC : Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda – Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
STAGE WINNER, sponsorised by SKOL : Timothy Rugg (USA – Team Lowestrates.ca)
BEST CILMBER, sponsorised by COGEBANK : Samuel Mugisha (Rwanda – Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
BEST YOUNG RIDER sponsorised by SORAS : Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda – Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
BEST AFRICAN sponsorised by RWANDAIR : Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda – Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
BEST RWANDAN sponsorised by RDB : Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda – Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
Panorama
Timothy Rugg, the American of the Canadian Team Lowestrates. (photo/Courtesy)
