Teklehaimanot solos to victory

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Eritrean riders were expected to put their climbing prowess on display in Thursday morning's second stage at the Tour of Rwanda and they didn't disappointed their fans. Eritrea's Daniel Teklehaimanot soloed to victory and took the yellow jersey while three of his teammates placed in the top five for the stage.

During the 54.3km between Kigali and Byumba, the Eritrean team went on the attack at the bottom of the long last ascent, at 23km to the go. The gradient wasn't strong enough to break dislodge any of the overall contenders from the leading group, but their repeated accelerations put their rivals on the defensive as they made their way to Byumba, Rwanda's highest city (2,230m).

Fresalki Debesai was the most aggressive rider of the Eritrea team. He went clear and was chased by a group including his teammate Teweldemedhin Natnael Berhane, Tarik Chaoufi (Morocco), Jim Sogenzo (South Africa), Sollomon Bittew Shiferaw (UCI Continental Center) and Issiaka Cisse (Ivory Coast).

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The lead group reformed, however, until Teklehaimanot launched a powerful attack eight kilometres from the line.

"I didn't plan to go in front but I felt it was the right moment to try my chance," Teklehaimanot said. The Africa Continental Champion gained a maximum of 15 seconds and held on to win alone by eight seconds over the first chase group.

Yellow jersey wearer Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (South Africa) punctured at three kilometers to go and lost over 1:40. However, the UCI commissaires had decided before the race that stage 2 was a flat stage, so the South African puncheur was given the same time as the rivals he was riding with before the incident, and thus only lost 13 seconds on the day.

"I'm really lucky," said the South African. "It's a pity I had to finish with my flat tyre in the back wheel but the general classification isn't over. I'll try this afternoon."

Abdelati Saadoune (Morocco) was less lucky as he punctured at the beginning of the stage and expended much energy to chase back to the peloton. His teammate Adil Jelloul, winner of 2009 Tour of Rwanda, faired better and won the sprint for second place on the stage, eight seconds behind Teklehaimanot. Jelloul now holds sixth on general classification, 23 seconds from Teklehaimanot.

"That's a good stage for the team," said Mostafa Najjari, coach of the Morocco team. "But we are competing for second place because Eritrean riders are really too strong. Fortunately the team feels better than yesterday with the high altitude."

Teklehaimanot hasn't suffered any ill effects from altitude. The Eritrean grew up in Asmara, at 2,400m, and lives now in Debarwa, at 1,800m.

"I like the mountains like this morning and not the short and steep climbs like in the next stage this afternoon," he said. Stage 3 between Byumba and Kigali, 62.5km long, finishes on a challenging 4km climb with its steepest sections at 16 percent.