Australian rider Brady Gilmore, representing Israel – Premier Tech, emerged victorious in the second stage of the Tour du Rwanda 2025. The stage, covering a distance of 112.8 kilometers from Kigali to Musanze, concluded with Gilmore crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 39 seconds.
Despite Gilmore’s stage victory, French cyclist Fabien Doubey of TotalEnergies retained the prestigious yellow jersey as the overall race leader after two completed stages.
The Tour du Rwanda, a highly competitive cycling race that traverses the country, continued on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, with the Kigali-Musanze stage marking the third day of the competition.
Riders set off from the MIC commercial complex in Kigali and concluded the race at Goico Plaza Market in Musanze District. From the start, two riders, Dorn Vinzent of Germany’s Bike Aid team and Nsengiyumva Shemu of Java-Inovotec, broke away from the peloton. They were later pursued by Munyaneza Didier, who had led much of the previous stage from Rukomo to Kayonza.
At the 34-kilometer mark, Vinzent and Shemu had established a 2-minute and 40-second lead over Munyaneza. By the 45-kilometer point, Munyaneza was reeled in by the chasing peloton, while the breakaway duo extended their lead to 4 minutes and 45 seconds.
Nsengiyumva Shemu demonstrated remarkable endurance, staying ahead of the race up to the 90-kilometer mark. He eventually dropped Vinzent and led solo for five more kilometers before being caught by the chasing group.
Rwandan riders showed strong determination in the latter part of the race. At the 97-kilometer point, Manizabayo and Byukusenge of Java-Inovotec attacked, briefly breaking away from a peloton led by Eritrean cyclists. Manizabayo managed to lead alone at the 100-kilometer mark after Byukusenge dropped back, but he too was soon reeled in by the peloton.
The race concluded in a thrilling sprint finish, with riders battling for the stage win. Ultimately, 23-year-old Brady Gilmore edged out his competitors to secure victory, crossing the finish line first in Musanze.
