Reijnen takes his fourth stage

Team Type 1-Sanofi's stagiaire and future neo-professional Joey Rosskopf secured his yellow jersey at stage 4 between Gisenyi (Rubavu) and Muhuhanga (Gitarama). On a course with 2,600m of climbing, the young American did better than he expected but his leadership was reduced to 4 seconds, ahead his teammate Kiel Reijnen who won the stage.

Reijnen, who had already triumphed in the first three stages, outsprinted his escapee companions, South African Dylan Girdlestone (MTN Qhubeka), Rwandan Nathan Byukusenge (Rwanda Karisimbi) and Weldemikael Weyo (Ethiopian national Team).

Another MTN rider, Jacques Janse Van Rensburg, had been part to the breakaway and crossed the line first three times at the top of GPM but blew up in the last ascent.

"I don't understand MTN's tactics," Reijnen told Cyclingnews. "They could take the yellow jersey with Girdlestone but they didn't want to do their turns, so I rode 40km by myself. Now my team is in a good position as we are two in the two first places."

MTN's new leader is 4th in GC 28 seconds behind Rosskopf. Between one and three minutes to the lead, Rwanda has four riders in the top eight, including Adrien Niyonshuti (MTN) who suffered the whole day with a seriously scraped knee and a dislocated shoulder which deprived of wearing the polka-dot jersey on the podium, all due to a crash the day before when he came back to his hotel.

Thursday will be an undulating stage of 80 kilometers to Butare, a pretty easy and fast ride before the hardest two final stages.

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