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As the 2016 Tour du Rwanda draws to a close today, Rwanda’s Valens Ndayisenga is one race away from becoming the first rider to win the race for a second time.

Since 2009 when Tour du Rwanda became an international race, no cyclist has won the annual event more than once, however, the South Africa’s Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka rider made the crucial step towards this historic landmark yesterday clinching the sixth stage from Kigali-Musanze (90.9km) to retain his yellow jersey he took since stage 2.

Despite a modest display in stage five (Muhanga-Musanze; 125.8km) on Friday finishing in the 18th place, Ndayisenga made upped his efforts yesterday winning the penultimate stage which makes him a favourite to claim this year’s title.

The 23-year-old 2014 champion reached the finish line in Nyamirambo using a total of 2 hours, 20 minutes and 38 seconds, the same time that his nearest contender Metkel used covering the 90.9km distance that was characterized by heavy winds and downpours all the way.

Source: The New Times

Stage 5: Top Ten
1. Eyob Metkel- Dimension Data 03h15’57’’
2. Patrick Byukusenge- Club Benediction 03h15’57’’
3. Kibrom Hailay Giday- Ethiopia National Team 03h15’57’’
4. Gasore Hategeka- Team Rwanda 03h15’57’’
5. Bonaventure Uwizeyimana- Dimension Data 03h16’43’’
6. Tesfom Okubamariam- Eritrea National Team 03h16’43’’
7. Calvin Beneke- South Africa National Team 03h16’43’’
8. Omer Goldshtein- Cycling Academy Team 03h16’43”
9. Aman Werkilul Ghebreigzabhier- Dimension 03h16’43’’
10. Temesgen Mebrahtu Buru- Ethiopia National Team 03h16’43’’ ‘’

General Classification
1. Valens Ndayisenga -Dimension Data 16h11’19’’
2. Eyob Metkel – Dimension Data 16h12’01’’
3. Joseph Areruya – Les Amis Sportifs 16h12’35’’
4. Tesfom Okubamariam – Eritrea National Team 16h12’42’’
5. Jean Bosco Nsengimana – Stradalli-Bike Aid 16h12’45’’
6. Patrick Byukusenge – Club Benediction 16h13’59’’
7. Hailay Kibrom Giday- Ethiopia National Team 16h14’22”
8. Amanu Ghebreigzabhier Werkilul – Dimension Data 16h14’44’’
9. Suleiman Kangagi – Kenyan Riders DownUnder 16h14’45’’
10. Temesgen Mebrahtu Buru – Ethiopia National team 16h14’56’’

Eyob Metkel, who is riding for Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, won Stage 5 of Tour du Rwanda on Friday to pile pressure on teammate and yellow jersey holder, Valens Ndayisenga.

Despite a long and difficult day that was characterised by cold winds and heavy rains in Nyabihu, about 25 kilometres to the finish line, it didn’t stop the 23-year-old three-time Tour du Rwanda stage winner (2013, 2015 and 2016) from claiming his first victory of this year’s race.

The Eritrean used 3 hours, 15 minutes and 57 seconds, same time as Patrick Byukusenge (2nd) of Club Benediction, Kibrom Hailay Giday (3rd) of Ethiopia National Team and Team Rwanda’s Gasore Hategeka (4th).

Eyob, who has won the yellow jersey a combined nine times between 2013 and 2015 but without winning the overall race, made his intention of grabbing the leader’s yellow jersey from Ndayisenga, who has worn it since stage two.

The quartet finished 46 seconds ahead of the second peloton that comprised 16 riders, including Bonaventure Uwizeyimana (Dimension Data), Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Stradalli-Bike Aid), stage 4 winner Joseph Areruya while yellow Jersey holder and stage two winner, Valens Ndayisenga was 18th.

“It was a tough stage and I am happy to win, but our first target as a team is to keep the yellow jersey with Ndayisenga,” said Eyob in an interview with Times Sport after scooping the Skol’s Orange jersey of the stage winner.

After his victory, Eyob moved from the fifth to the second place in the general classification having reduced the gap on the race leader by 42 seconds, with two stages remaining.

Rwandan Ndayisenga, winner in 2014 and bidding to become the first rider to win Tour du Rwanda more than once since it became a UCI Africa Tour race in 2009, has used a total of 16 hours, 11 minutes and 19 seconds.

Asked if they will not be against each other in the remaining two final stages with Ndayisenga, Eyob noted that, “No, no, we are not against each, we are a team and we are working together so that we win the tour both as a team and the yellow.”

Twenty-year old Areruya of Les Amis Sportifs de Rwamagana comes in third place with 16 hours, 12 minutes and 35 seconds followed by Tesfom Okubamariam, riding for Eriteria national team with 16h12’42” while defending champion Nsengimana is in the fifth place with 16h12’45”.

For the fourth day in a row, Benediction Club youngster Samuel Mugisha claimed the best climber jersey while Ndayisenga scooped the young, best Rwandan, best African jerseys. Today riders will race in the penultimate stage from Musanze to Kigali, covering a distance of 103.9km.

Source: The New Times

Stage 5 – Nov. 18: 
Muhanga-Musanze (125.8km)

Stage 6 – Nov. 19: 
Musanze-Kigali Regional Stadium (103.9km)

Stage 7 – Nov. 20: 
Amahoro Stadium-Kigali Amahoro Stadium (108.0km)

21-year-old Joseph Areruya has won Stage Four of Tour du Rwanda 2016. The youngster, who rides for Rwamagana-based Amis Sportifs, took stage four, also known as ‘Nyungwe Challenge’ in 4 hours two minutes and 23 seconds.

Areruya was followed by compatriot Joseph Biziyaremye and while Eritrea national, Ghebreigzabhier Amanu emerged third. Over 20 riders finished at the same time.

For this stage, riders rode through the vast tropical rain forest of Nyungwe for a distance of 140.7km making it the longest stage of this year’s Tour du Rwanda.

Rwandan, Valens Ndayisenga who rides for Dimension Data maintains the yellow jersey as he still lead in the general classification with 1 minute and 6 seconds ahead of Areruya.

18-year-old Samuel Mugisha, who lead the pack until the final one kilometre of the Rusizi-Huye race once again won best climber.

Friday will be stage five of the competition that will see riders sprint from Muhanga in the Southern Province to Musanze in the Northern Province, covering 125.8 kilometres.

Source: The New Times

Prologue winner, Timothy Rugg has won Stage Three of the Tour du Rwanda 2016. The American who rides for Canada-based Team LowestRates took the stage in 3 hours, 18 minutes and 16 seconds.

Stage three, also known as the ‘Kivu-belt’ race, is a 115.9 km chase between Karongi and Rusizi districts in the Western Province.

It’s one of the two new routes that have been added to this year’s Tour du Rwanda.

Joseph Areruya of Rwamagana-based Les Amis Sportifs finished in second position while Eritrean Eyob Metkel of Dimension Data was third.

However, despite finishing 7th in this race, Valens Ndayisenga maintains the yellow jersey.

18-year-old Samuel Mugisha once again won best climber.

On Thursday, the riders head to Huye District for stage four of the competition.

Stage 4 –Nov. 17:
Rusizi-Huye (140.7km)
Stage 5 – Nov. 18:

Muhanga-Musanze (125.8km)
Stage 6 – Nov. 19:

Musanze-Kigali Regional Stadium (103.9km)
Stage 7 – Nov. 20:
Amahoro Stadium-Kigali Amahoro Stadium (108.0km)

Source: The New Times

Top ten
1 Ndayisenga Valens -Dimension Data 3h16’46’’
2 Kangangi Suleiman -Kenyan Riders Down Under 3h17’52’’
3 Joseph Areruya -Les Amis Sportifs 03h18’13’’
4. Eyob Metkel- Dimension Data 3h18’13’’
5 Jean Bosco Nsengimana- Stradalli – Bike Aid 03h18’13’’
6 Tesfom Okubamariam -Eritrea National Team 3h18’13’’
7 Abraham Ruhumuriza – Team Rwanda 3h18’13’’
8 Wachtendorf Brett- Team LowestRates 3h18’13’’
9. Ghebreigzabhier Werkilul Aman- Dimension Data 3h18’13’’
10. Patrick Byukusenge- Club Benediction 3h18’13”

General Classification
1. Valens Ndayisenga- Dimension Data 05h33’26”
2. Joseph Areruya- Les Amis Sportif 05h34’51”
3. Jean Bosco Nsengimana- Stradalli-Bike Aid 05h34’52”
4. Tesfom Okubamariam- Eriteria 05h34’58
5. Eyob Mitkel- Dimension Data 05h35’03”
6. Suleiman Kangangi-Kenyan Down Under 05h36’33”
7. Amanu Werkilul Ghebreigzabhier- Dimension Data 05h36’46”
8. MebraTemesgen Buru- Ethiopia 05h36’51”
9. Sebastien Fayard Fournet-Haute-Savoi/Rhone-Alpe 05h36’53”
10. Brett Wachtendorf- LowestRates 05h36’53”

Rwandan riders have started to show what they can on home soil after they dominated stage two of the ongoing Tour of Rwanda, yesterday claiming the top three positions in general classification.

The 2014 winner, Valens Ndayisenga, currently riding for South Africa’s Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, was the star of the day, winning the stage (Kigali-Karongi), a distance of 124.7km, in three hours, 16 minutes and forty six micro-seconds.

The Rwamagana-born rider beat his nearest rival, Suleiman Kangagi of Kenyan Riders Down Under (3h17’52’’), by one minute and six seconds.

Stage one winner Joseph Areruya, riding for Les Amis Sportif de Rwamagana, came in third position, clocking 3 hours, 18 minutes and 13 micro seconds—one minute and 27 seconds behind Ndayisenga.

Defending champion Jean Bosco Nsengimana, who is racing for Germany-based Continental Team Stradalli-Bike Aid, finished fifth using 3 hours, 18 minutes and 13 micro-seconds.

“This stage was very competitive, however, I tried to reserve myself for the last five kilometres. I took the decision to attack from about ten kilometres and I sprinted well which helped me to win the stage,” Ndayisenga told Times Sport after his stage triumph. It is the third Tour du Rwanda stage win for the 2014 champion.

He added, “I wanted to win a stage because, it has been a long time since I last won one, but also give Rwandans something to cheer for, they have been supportive.”

Following his stage triumph, Ndayisenga scooped not only the yellow jersey, but also the best Rwandan rider award, best African rider award, and best young rider jersey.

Nineteen-year old debutant Samuel Mugisha, riding for Rubavu-based Benediction Club, was the best climber of the day after winning four of the seven climbs in the stage.

After day three and two stages, Ndayisenga is now the race new leader in the general classification, with a time of 5hours, 33 minutes and 26 micro-seconds, followed by compatriot Areruya, who has so far used 5 hours, 34 minutes and 51 micro-seconds.

Nsengimana is one minute and 26 second behind Areruya, in third place, while Tesfom Okubariam of Eritrea national team, is in the fourth place with 5 hours, 34 minutes and 58 micro-seconds.

On Wednesday, in stage three, riders will head to Rusizi from Karongi (115.9km) also known as Kivu-Belt, one of the two new routes that have been added to this year’s Tour du Rwanda.

– The New Times

A total of 40 participants attended a five-day Olympic Solidarity course organized in partnership with the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee that concluded on Friday at Amahoro National Stadium.

Participants were members of the Rwanda School Sport Federation (FRSS) and Rwanda Association of Sports Journalists (AJSPOR), was intended to educate and encourage the trainees, better adaption to the Olympic values.

The course was conducted by Tharcisse Harerimana on behalf of the Olympic Solidarity and it was focused on the three Olympic values- Friendship, Respect and Excellence along with the four Paralympic values-Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality.

“The values underpin the Games as a set of universal principles, but they can be applied to education and our lives as well as to sport itself,” Harerimana said at the closing ceremony.

Emile Ruberwa, who attended the training on behalf of the FRSS said, “We have acquired wisdom about the Olympic Values that we did not know. We learnt a lot about, and now we need to buy modafinil the youth about these values.”

Meanwhile, RNOSC Executive Director, Jean de Dieu Mukundiyukuri noted that, “RNOSC will continue to work hard within the limits of its ability and resources to uplift the ideals of the Olympic Movement, especially through such training.”

All the participants were awarded certificates at the end of the five-day training.  

  

      

Introduced in 2000, the IOC Women and Sport Trophies recognise the outstanding achievement and contributions made to develop, encourage and strengthen the participation of women and girls in sport at all levels. The winners of 2016 were officially awarded by The IOC President, Thomas Bach, Monday evening at a gala ceremony held at the SwissTech Convention Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Five continental and one world trophies are awarded every year.

Earlier in the evening, five continental trophies were awarded to the following people:

• Winner for Africa: Ms Félicité Rwemarika, Executive Committee member at Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee. – As well as founding the Organisation of Kigali Women in Sports, Ms Rwemarika fought for the creation of a national council for women in sport in Rwanda. She has devoted her life to helping women and girls in different areas, and particularly sport.

• Winner for the Americas: Dr Carole Oglesby (USA) – President of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, President of the National Association of Girls and Women’s Sport, President of Women Sport International and co-Chair of the International Working Group on Women and Sport. Throughout her academic career, Dr Oglesby has devoted herself to the growth and development of women’s studies and the advocacy of women in sport.

• Winner for Asia: Ms Maria Leonor Estampador (Philippines) – Athlete, first female national fencing coach, sports official and leader, Ms Estampador has championed providing broader opportunities for women in both administrative and technical responsibilities within sport.

• Winner for Europe: Ms Majken Maria Gilmartin (Denmark) – As both a football coach and sports administrator, Ms Gilmartin has persistently advocated women’s rights in all her activities, events, coaching and campaigns.

• Winner for Oceania: Ms Moya Dodd (Australia) – Former international footballer, Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation, and member of the FIFA and AFC Legal Committees, Ms Dodd has championed women’s rights within the game and raised global awareness about the need to bring more gender diversity into all areas of sports governance.

• Winner for World Trophy Award: Mr. Dagim Zinabu Tekle (Ethiopia). – In 2011, the Ethiopian sports journalist founded the Lisan Women’s Sport Radio Programme, dedicated to inspiring women and girls to be more active in sport and to pursue their goals and dreams.

Coming from different sports and playing an instrumental role at numerous levels (elite sport, grassroots sport, sports administration, etc.), all the winners have all been instrumental in promoting women and sport activities.

Commenting on the event, IOC President Bach said: “The world of sport needs courageous men and women to lead the change towards gender equality. These Women and Sport Awards are very important because without these personalities whom we are honouring, the athletes could not achieve their goals.”

THE WORLD OF SPORT NEEDS COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN TO LEAD THE CHANGE TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY.– Thomas Bach,  IOC PRESIDENT

He added: “These personalities have assisted and inspired athletes. They have been fighting for the right of the female athletes, they have encouraged them. Let us be inspired by these role models to make the world a better place.”

Source: www.olympic.org

The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Technical Director, Mohamed Aziz Daouda, has called on the Rwanda Athletics Association (RAF) to empower young talents if the sport is to develop in the country. 

Morocco-born Daouda made the call while meeting with Rwandan officials during his official visit to the country, which aimed at finding ways to develop Rwandan athletics.

“It’s high time for Rwanda to have international athletes, but first, you (RAF) have to encourage the young people to take up the sport, they are the ones who will help you to move forward,” he said. 

He added that, “You need to prepare the athletes at an early age and if you prepare them well, you will be assured of a bright future, athletics has to start at the grassroots.” 

Daouda noted that, to be able to achieve the dream of having young girls and boys competing at the top level, they need full support from their mannergesundheit and the sports’ governing body. 

The Moroccan arrived in the country on October 29 before meeting with RAF president Jean Paul Munyandamutsa, and vice president Bernard Thomas Kajuga, at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali. 

On the second day of his visit, Daouda held a meeting with Rwanda National Olympic Sports Committee president Robert Bayigamba and was given a guided tour of Amahoro Stadium facilities. 

On the third day, he went on a field tour at Gicumbi Training Centre and afterwards met a group of athletes at Gicumbi Stadium. 

The CAA official also visited Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle Athletics Club in Rubavu on the fourth day of his visit, before meeting with RAF officials for a discussion on the “Projet de mise a Niveau de l’ Athletisme (2017–2027) on his fifth day in the country.

Source: The New Times

Rwanda national volleyball teams head coach Paul Bitok has said that the women team has a bright future after finishing on third position at the just concluded U23 Africa Championships, which was staged in Nairobi, Kenya.

Rwanda missed out on the finals of the 2017 World Championships in Slovenia after losing to hosts Kenya 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-19 and 25-20) at the Africa U23 Women Volleyball Championships that climaxed on Thursday evening at Safaricon Kasarani Stadium.

Egypt and Kenya will represent Africa at the World Championships in August next year. During the competition, Rwanda captain Seraphine ‘Baby’ Mukantabara was named as the best server in the tournament.

Bitok said that the sport local governing body, FRVB, needs to continue to devise plans to take the game to the grassroots in a bid to attract more young players.

“It is a matter of giving them (young players) the chance to play as many matches as possible at the international level where they get more experience.

“I believe next year we will have a much stronger senior national team because we have gained a lot from this competition,” said Bitok upon the team’s return from Nairobi on Friday evening.

The Kenyan trainer added, “We only need to continue develop the sport from youth to the senior level.”

The government has set itself a target of propelling the country to the top three on the continent in both basketball and volleyball by the 2017.

Bitok insists that the volleyball federation needs to continue to work closely with primary and secondary schools in promoting the sport, which has helped create and sustain a pool of good players around the country in past years.

Source: http://www.newtimes.co.rw