Tour of Rwanda: Prologue victory for Jean Bosco Nsengimana

Under dark storm clouds in Kigali, Jean Bosco Nsengimana of the national Rwandan Team repeated his 2015 prologue victory to take the first yellow leader's jersey of the race. The 2015 overall champion covered the 3.3km course around the Amaroo Stadium in 3:46, three seconds faster than defending champion Valens Ndayisenga.

"I am feeling very good and I am really happy to win today," Nsengimana said while swamped by the Rwanda press pack. "I worked very hard to win. The tour is starting tomorrow for me."

Nsengimana was the fourth last rider to leave the start house knowing that he would need to go under the 3:52 time of Stefan De Bod (Dimension Data for Qhubeka) to take the win. The 24-year-old proved worthy of the challenge and slotted into the hot seat. Of the remaining riders, the final starter in Ndayisenga was arguably his most dangerous rival. Last year's podium finisher Tesfom Okubamariam (Eritrea National Team) and Baby Giro stage winner Joseph Areruya (Dimension Data for Qhubeka) were the other late starters.

Okubamariam missed the top-ten while Areruya slotted in fourth. The top-five was rounded out by Kenyan Suleiman Kangangi (Bike Aid).

With Nsengimana facing a nervous few minutes in the hot seat, the crowd enthusiastically chanted ‘Bosco, Bosco' to help calm the 2015 champion as he waited for his friend and rival to appear. As Ndayisenga approached the line, the ‘Bosco, Bosco' chant raised a level as it became clear he would be holding on for the win.

Ndayisenga now has three career second-place finishes in the prologue but with the race’s seven road stages suited to his characteristics, the 23-year-old on Tirol remains confident his bid for a third win is well on track.

"I am feeling really, really good and I am happy to have finished in second place today. It was very fast but it was good for me," he said. "My position is good and it is easy for me to get the yellow jersey in the second stage."

With Nsengimana and Ndayisenga both opting for Pinarello Bolides, De Bod was racing onboard his Cervelo road bike. Having started the race with the ambitions of winning the prologue, the 20-year-old expressed his disappointment with the result. But was quick to add that he gave it his all has to be content knowing he left it all out on the road.

"It is a good ride but I am a bit disappointed. I really wanted to win today but to be realistic, it was too hard with a normal road bike," De Bod said of his result, six seconds down on Nsengimana. "If I could do anything better I would warm up a little bit better. It is the best I could do in the day so I am happy with that.

Although De Bod was disappointed to have missed the win, the thousands of joyous fans who packed the roadside in Kigali didn't mind as they celebrated a Rwandan one-two finish and six local riders in the top-ten. With just 48 seconds separating race leader Nsengimana and Patrick Gramper (Tirol) in 73rd position, the race remains open. Although it is the two Rwandans at the head of the GC who have made their overall ambitions clear, announcing themselves as the riders to beat in 2017.

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