Benediction club rider Jean Bosco Nsengimana won the Northern Circuit cycling race yesterday after clocking one hour 43 minutes and 41 seconds from Rubavu to Musanze which covered a total distance of 65.4km.
Jean Bosco Nsengimana celebrates as he crosses the finish line on the way to winning the Northern Circuit race yesterday. (Peter Kamasa)
“I am happy with my performance today because I really wanted to win this race. I have been doing well in training and I started this race with the purpose of winning, it was my plan from the start,” the Team Rwanda rider told Sunday Sport after the race.
He added that, “I tried to go early so they did not see me, they tried to catch me but failed, I know this place quite well. However, winning here puts pressure on me to do well in the upcoming races.”
Nsengimana was followed by teammates Patrick Byukusenge with 1 hour 45 minutes, 51 seconds while Amis Sportif rider Joseph Aleluya clocked 1 hour and 47 minute and 11 seconds and Camera Hakuzimana 1 hour 47 and 11 seconds to finish third and fourth respectively.
Race to Remember and Race for Culture winner, Janvier Hadi, finished in fifth position. For his win, Nsengimana received Rwf100.000 and Rwf60.000 for being the top ranked in the U23 category.
After spending four months without competing as he recovered a career-threatening head injury, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana finished in sixth position after clocking 1 hour, 47 minutes and 11 seconds.
The Northern Circuit race is part of ‘Rwanda Cycling Cup’ which includes 10 national races sponsored by Skol and Cogebanque in conjunction with Rwanda Cycling Federation.
The competition started in April with the Kivu Race from Muhanga to Rubavu.
In June, the National Championship race Indiviudal Time trial in Kicukiro was won by Valens Ndayisenga while the road race from Kigali to Huye went to Joseph Biziyaremye.
The race will continue on August 22 for the Western Circuit, and the Muhanga – Karongi on September 12, Tour of Kigali + Circuit: Kigali – Bugesera before Tour du Rwanda 16-22 November.
Rubavu – Musanze: 65.4km
Jean Bosco Nsengimana 1:43:41
Patrick Byukusenge 1:45:51
Joseph Aleluya 1:47:11
Camera Hakuzimana 1:47:11
Hadi Janvier 1:47:11
Bonaventure Uwizeyimana 1:47:11
By Peter Kamasa, The New Times