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Guillaume Boivin wins in Ngoma on Stage 1 of 2016 Tour du Rwanda

Boivin active throughout the stage and emerges victorious with powerful sprint

November 14, 2016
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by Tyler D’Arcy

Lots of support given to racers from the locals all along the course. Photo: Tyler D'Arcy

Guillaume Boivin and Omer Goldshtien (Cycling Academy), and Nathan Byukusenge (Rwanda National Team) got a maximum lead of 58 seconds on the peloton. Photo: Tyler D'Arcy

The categorized climb (2.4 km at 4.1 per cent) of the day, 34 km into the stage. Photo: Tyler D'Arcy

Photo: Tyler D'Arcy

Guillaume Boivin sprints to victory in Ngoma ahead of Eritrean riders Zemenfes Solomon and Tesfom Okubamariam. Photo: Tyler D'Arcy

Boivin celebrates his stage win. Photo: Tyler D'Arcy

Boivin on the podium. Photo: Tyler D'Arcy

Joseph Areruya leads the general classification. Photo: Tyler D'Arcy

Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Cycling Academy) sprinted to victory in a thrilling Stage 1 of the 2016 Tour du Rwanda in Ngoma. The race was aggressive from the start with a group of six riders getting 25 seconds on the peloton by the base of the Cat. 3 climb, 34 km into the stage.

The race came back together on the climb and a new one formed as a group of seven containing Boivin rode over the top with a small gap. The seven-rider breakaway didn’t last long, Boivin choosing to forge ahead solo ahead of the group as the rest got absorbed back into the peloton. After 4 km alone in the lead, Boivin was joined by his Cycling Academy teammate Omer Goldshtien and Team Rwanda cyclist Nathan Byukusenge. Five riders then bridged up to the group of three, making it a group of eight.

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With 11 km left in the stage, eight more riders bridged up to the breakaway. The 16 riders in the lead group contained many of the race favourites including the two previous winners of the Tour du Rwanda, Valens Ndayisenga (Rwanda/Dimension Data for Qhubeka) and Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Rwanda/Stradalli- Bike Aid). The group of 16 would contest the stage win, with Boivin taking the victory ahead of  Zemenfes Solomon and Tesform Okubamariam of the Eritrea National Team  in the small town of Ngoma in the Eastern part of the country. Joseph Areruya (Rwanda/Les Amis Sportif) moved into the yellow jersey.

Stage 2 leaves from the Kigali Convention Center heading 124.7 km to Karongi in the Western province of the country. The race now heads into more mountainous terrain with Stage 2 featuring six categorized climbs.

2016 Tour du Rwanda Stage 1
1) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Cycling Academy) 2:21:35
2) Zemenfes Solomon (Eritrea/Eritrea National Team) st.
3) Tesform Okubamariam (Eritrea/Eritrea National Team) st.

2016 Tour du Rwanda GC
1) Joseph Areuya (Rwanda/Les Amis Sportif) 2:16:38
2) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Cycling Academy) +00:01
3) Jean Bosco Nsengimana (Rwanda/Stradalli-Bike Aid) st.