Former national champion celebrates first win at national tour
Image 1 of 2
Rwandan national champion Bonaventure Uwizeyimana and Junrey Navarro(Image credit: Dimension Data/Chris Allison/Cyclista)
Bonaventure Uwizeyimana celebrates his stage win(Image credit: Tour of Rwanda)
A Tour of Rwanda debutant in 2012, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana has since lined out in the following four editions of the race. The 24-year-old won a stage at the 2014 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo and the Rwandan national title last year but found success hard to come by at his national tour.
On a day for the opportunists into Rwamagana, the hometown of Rwanda's first WorldTour rider Adrien Niyonshuti, Club Benedict covered its bases for victory by placing a rider in the breakaway and keeping Uwizeyimana in reserve for a potential sprint finish.
A member of the MTN-Qhubeka WCC team in 2013, Uwizeyimana moved to France the following year to ride with the Direct Energie feeder team Vendée U from July, his stage win at the Amissa Bongo catching the eye of Direct Energie team manager Jean-René Bernaudeau. Teammates from the 2014 season included Thomas Boudat and Lilian Calmejane who have both progressed into the professional ranks with Direct Energie.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
