After the victory of the Eritrean Mekseb Debesay yesterday that had been worrying Rwandans on their land, Emile Bintunimana of the Team Rwanda Muhabura has reassured today the thousands of fans present near the finish line in Huye.

By winning the stage in a sprint ahead the French Julien Liponne of the Team Haute-Savoie - Rhône-Alpes and another Rwandan Ruhumuriza Abraham, he proved that Rwandan riders knew react at the right time against the threat of Eritreans but also French.

The former professional Cofidis Jérémy Bescond 4th on the overall classement this morning, was escaped with the Kenyan Suleiman Kangangi before Rwandans regain control of operations.

Emile Bintunimana found himself in the last group escaped to approach the final with a head sprint finish. « It is my strong point, he said after his victory. I knew I had a good chance of success. This is the first time I won a stage of the Tour of Rwanda, it is a great joy. »

This is the 8th stage victory of a Rwandan since 2009, but the 5th rider to enter his name in the history after Valens Ndayisenga (2 times), Janvier Hadi (2 times), Joseph Biziyaremye (2 times) and Jean-Bosco Nsengimana (Sunday’s prologue).

With its advantage of the breakaway 24 seconds, he is second on the general classement at only 2 seconds behind the yellow jersey Jean Bosco Nsengimana.

The 2nd stage tomorrow will take the riders from Kigali to Musanze where Valens Ndayisenga won the last two years close to their training center at the foot of volcanoes.