By TesfaNews,
Eritrean Mekseb Debesay, riding for Team Bike Aid of Germany, won stage 4 of the ongoing Tour du Rwanda on Thursday, from Musanze to Nyanza, after clocking four hours 21 minutes and 6 seconds in a distance of 166 km.
It was his second stage win following his success in the first stage, from Nyagatare to Rwamagana on Monday.
After an unsuccessful bid during Sunday’s opening prologue due to faulty bike, his countrymen Meron Teshome had took solace in winning yesterday’s 108 km stage 5 race from Muhanga – Rubavu District.
After the victory, Debesay said, “Sprint is my strong point. I knew I had a good chance of success. This is the fourth time, I’m winning a stage of the Tour of Rwanda, it is a great joy.” Last year, he won stage 1 from Kigali-Ngoma and stage 6 from Huye-Kigali.
Meron on his part said, “I had to forget my disappointment [in the prologue], declared the winner of the stage today after the finish. The whole team has worked for me and I had also to win for my teammates.”
Meanwhile, Jean Bosco Nsengimana of team Rwanda managed to retain his grip on the overall race lead and continues to wear the race leader’s yellow jersey despite finishing in 16th the stage 4 while 2nd in stage 5. He is the undesputed leader of the race as he retains the best African, best Rwandan and best young rider titles so far.
Eritrean Ammanuel Gebrezgabihier still maintains his best mountain climber title for second successive day.
The Tour du Rwanda will continue today with stage 6, which will take the riders from Rubavu – Kigali, featuring a cobbled uphill finish.
* The New Times and Capovelo have contributed to the above story.
