KIGALI, 13 November 2016 – The American Timothy Rugg broke the dream of the Rwandans to win a fourth consecutive victory on the prologue of the Tour of Rwanda.
The rider of the Canadian Team Lowestrates has left no chance today for his rivals on this 3.3 kilometer time trial, dominating the Eritrean Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka) of two seconds and the young Rwandan Joseph Areruya of three seconds.
As in 2011 and 2012 the first two appearances of the prologue to the program of the Tour of Rwanda, a rider from the North American continent won today after Kiel Reijnen (USA) and Rémi Roy Pelletier (Canada). The favorites of this 8th edition are already placed on this prologue as the last two winners of the race, Jean-Bosco Nsengimana (5th to 4 ”) and Valens Ndayisenga (6th to 5”).
THE WINNER
Timothy Rugg won his first professional victory today at the age of 30. The Californian had been more noticed with interesting places on the North American circuit at home in the United States but especially in Canada on major events like the Tour de Beauce or the GP of Saguenay. “Winning my first victory in Africa has much value for me,” he said at the press conference. I stayed there when I was young in Uganda and Kenya but I had never raced a african cycling race. I do not know if I will be able to keep my yellow jersey but the long climbs like those of Rwanda are rather roads that benefit me. »
STAGE 1 CLASSIFICATION
1 – Timothy Rugg (USA – Team Lowestrates.ca)
2 – Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eritrea – Dimension Data for Qhubeka) at 2’’
3 – Joseph Areruya (Rwanda – Les Amis Sportifs) at 3’’
4 – Guillaume Boivin (Canada – Cycling Academy Team) at 4’’
5 – Jean-Bosco Nsengimana (Rwanda – Stradalli-Bike Aid) at 4’’
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Timothy Rugg (USA – Team Lowestrates.ca)
2 – Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eritrea – Dimension Data for Qhubeka) at 2’’
3 – Joseph Areruya (Rwanda – Les Amis Sportifs) at 3’’
4 – Guillaume Boivin (Canada – Cycling Academy Team) at 4’’
5 – Jean-Bosco Nsengimana (Rwanda – Stradalli-Bike Aid) at 4’’
JERSEYS
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION, sponsored by MINISPOC: Timothy Rugg (USA – Team Lowestrates.ca)
STAGE WINNER, sponsored by SKOL: Timothy Rugg (USA – Team Lowestrates.ca)
BEST CLIMBER, sponsored by COGEBANK: Guillaume Boivin (Canada – Cycling Academy Team)
BEST YOUNG RIDER (born after 1 Januray 1994) sponsored by SORAS: Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eritrea – Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
BEST AFRICAN sponsored by RWANDAIR: Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eritrea – Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
BEST RWANDAN sponsored by RDB: Joseph Areruya (Rwanda – Les Amis Sportifs)
Panorama
