Tour du Rwanda 2024: Restrepo and Reinderink Shine in Stage 3 Huye-Rusizi

In 2024, during the Tour du Rwanda, Colombian cyclist Jhonatan Restrepo, riding for the Polti-Kometa team, finished the stage from Huye to Rusizi, covering a distance of 140.3 kilometers. Restrepo, 30 years old, is known for his strong performance.

Meanwhile, Dutch cyclist Pepijn Reinderink, 21, racing for Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team, recently won a race after a period of training.

The current race has attracted many leaders, including Habteab (Bike Aid), Mugalu (May Stars), Munyaneza (Rwanda), Geary (Africa of Fire), and Tuyizere (Java Inovotec).

This stage of the race is crucial, with riders pushing hard. The Tour du Rwanda has previously included stages in Nyungwe Forest in 2016 and 2020.

After a 10-kilometer stretch, William Lecerf Junior of Soudal Quick-Step broke away from the pack, reaching the Shagasha Hill checkpoint with a 15-second lead.

In the next 2 kilometers, Rolland and Lecerf rode together, trying to catch up with the leading group.

After a fierce competition, Itamar, who had previously won a stage, was overtaken by the Soudal Quick-Step team at the 117-kilometer mark.

Nineteen teams are participating in the race, but only 92 cyclists remain as of today due to two others falling behind at Kibeho.

Stage three of the Tour du Rwanda will conclude in Rusizi, following the 2016 edition that ended in Rusizi after starting in Karongi.

The Huye-Rusizi stage was last included in the race in 2020 when it was won by Jhonatan Restrepo Valencia of Colombia, who has a reputation for performing well in the Tour du Rwanda, having finished in the top five alongside Ndayisenga Valens and Eyob Metkel. Restrepo’s historic victory was in Kigali-Rubavu in February 2022.