After a few days of social projects, including embracing the only women’s team in Rwanda (see video below) and visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Sunday the second of May marked the first stage of the Tour du Rwanda.
The girls from the cycling club of Kibungo, who Israel Start-Up Nation pledged to support with the cycling equipment needed to chase their dreams, came over to watch the race and saw that Israeli continental riders Edo Goldstein and Omer Lahav had perfectly adapted to racing with the WorldTour team.
It is always a special feeling to race on Rwandan roads. The fans, the views, and the type of racing make the Tour du Rwanda different from any other race.
With teams consisting of only five riders, and a peloton of just 75 riders in total, the stages in the Tour du Rwanda are very difficult to control. The race features very aggressive racing, from the gun, and requires an attentive racing attitude.
Israel Start-Up Nation, who had participated in the Tour du Rwanda since it was a continental team, has experience with racing on Rwandan roads. The team took responsibility, chased down a break-away, and finished with four of the five riders solidly in the bunch.
With seven stages to go, James Piccoli is in a promising position for a good result in the GC.
Photos: Sjors Beukeboom & Jean Chris Kitoko
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