# 2019 Tour du Rwanda

The 2019 Tour du Rwanda was a road cycling stage race that took place between 24 February and 3 March 2019. The race was rated as a 2.1 event as part of the 2019 UCI Africa Tour, and was the 22nd edition of the Tour du Rwanda.

## Teams

Seventeen teams started the race. Each team had a maximum of five riders:
UCI WorldTeams
* Astana
UCI Professional Continental Teams
* Delko–Marseille Provence
* Israel Cycling Academy
* Team Novo Nordisk
* Direct Énergie
UCI Continental Teams
* BAI–Sicasal–Petro de Luanda
* Benediction–Excel Energy
* Dimension Data for Qhubeka
* Interpro Cycling Academy
* NiCe–Ethiopia Cycling Team
* ProTouch
National Teams
* Algeria
* Cameroon
* Eritrea
* France U23
* Kenya
* Rwanda

## Route

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Stage winner |
| 1 | 24 February | Kigali to Kigali | 111.8 km (69.5 mi) | | Hilly stage | Alessandro Fedeli (ITA) |
| 2 | 25 February | Kigali to Huye | 120.3 km (74.8 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) |
| 3 | 26 February | Huye to Rubavu | 213.1 km (132.4 mi) | | Mountain stage | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) |
| 4 | 27 February | Rubavu to Karongi | 103 km (64 mi) | | Mountain stage | Edwin Ávila (COL) |
| 5 | 28 February | Karongi to Musanze | 138.7 km (86.2 mi) | | Mountain stage | Biniam Girmay (ERI) |
| 6 | 1 March | Musanze to Nyamata | 120.5 km (74.9 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Przemysław Kasperkiewicz (POL) |
| 7 | 2 March | Nyamata to Kigali | 84.2 km (52.3 mi) | | Hilly stage | Yakob Debesay (ERI) |
| 8 | 3 March | Kigali to Kigali | 66.8 km (41.5 mi) | | Hilly stage | Rodrigo Contreras (COL) |
| Total | Total | 958.4 km (595.5 mi) | 958.4 km (595.5 mi) | 958.4 km (595.5 mi) | 958.4 km (595.5 mi) | 958.4 km (595.5 mi) |

## Stages
### Stage 1

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessandro Fedeli (ITA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | 2h 41' 32" |
| 2 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 3 | Przemysław Kasperkiewicz (POL) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 4 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 5 | Salim Kipkemboi (KEN) | Kenya | s.t. |
| 6 | Simon Guglielmi (FRA) | France U23 | s.t. |
| 7 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 8 | Bryan Nauleau (FRA) | Direct Énergie | s.t. |
| 9 | Patrick Byukusenge (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | s.t. |
| 10 | Nikita Stalnov (KAZ) | Astana | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessandro Fedeli (ITA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | 2h 41' 32" |
| 2 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 3 | Przemysław Kasperkiewicz (POL) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 4 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 5 | Salim Kipkemboi (KEN) | Kenya | s.t. |
| 6 | Simon Guglielmi (FRA) | France U23 | s.t. |
| 7 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 8 | Bryan Nauleau (FRA) | Direct Énergie | s.t. |
| 9 | Patrick Byukusenge (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | s.t. |
| 10 | Nikita Stalnov (KAZ) | Astana | s.t. |

### Stage 2

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 3h 02' 17" |
| 2 | Przemysław Kasperkiewicz (POL) | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 2" |
| 3 | Biniam Girmay (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 4 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 5 | Rodrigo Contreras (COL) | Astana | s.t. |
| 6 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 7 | Simon Guglielmi (FRA) | France U23 | s.t. |
| 8 | Mulu Hailemichael (ETH) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | s.t. |
| 9 | Samuel Mugisha (RWA) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | s.t. |
| 10 | Yuriy Natarov (KAZ) | Astana | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 5h 43' 49" |
| 2 | Przemysław Kasperkiewicz (POL) | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 2" |
| 3 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 4 | Simon Guglielmi (FRA) | France U23 | s.t. |
| 5 | Alessandro Fedeli (ITA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 6 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 7 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 8 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 9 | Bryan Nauleau (FRA) | Direct Énergie | s.t. |
| 10 | Samuel Mugisha (RWA) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | s.t. |

### Stage 3

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 5h 21' 15" |
| 2 | Rein Taaramäe (EST) | Direct Énergie | + 15" |
| 3 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 43" |
| 4 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 58" |
| 5 | Rodrigo Contreras (COL) | Astana | + 8' 02" |
| 6 | Henok Mulubrhan (ERI) | Eritrea | + 9' 27" |
| 7 | Nikita Stalnov (KAZ) | Astana | s.t. |
| 8 | Jeremy Bellicaud (FRA) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | + 9' 34" |
| 9 | David Lozano (ESP) | Team Novo Nordisk | + 9' 52" |
| 10 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 11h 05' 04" |
| 2 | Rein Taaramäe (EST) | Direct Énergie | + 17" |
| 3 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 45" |
| 4 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 1' 00" |
| 5 | Rodrigo Contreras (COL) | Astana | + 8' 04" |
| 6 | Nikita Stalnov (KAZ) | Astana | + 9' 29" |
| 7 | Jeremy Bellicaud (FRA) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | + 9' 36" |
| 8 | Henok Mulubrhan (ERI) | Eritrea | + 9' 41" |
| 9 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 9' 54" |
| 10 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |

### Stage 4

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Edwin Ávila (COL) | Israel Cycling Academy | 2h 37' 32" |
| 2 | Pablo Torres (ESP) | Interpro Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 3 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | + 3" |
| 4 | Samuel Mugisha (RWA) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | s.t. |
| 5 | David Lozano (ESP) | Team Novo Nordisk | + 5" |
| 6 | Adrien Guillonnet (FRA) | Interpro Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 7 | Didier Munyaneza (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | s.t. |
| 8 | Alessandro Fedeli (ITA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 9 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 10 | Yuriy Natarov (KAZ) | Astana | + 9" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 13h 48' 19" |
| 2 | Rein Taaramäe (EST) | Direct Énergie | + 17" |
| 3 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 45" |
| 4 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 1' 00" |
| 5 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | + 4' 14" |
| 6 | Awet Gebremedhin (SWE) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 4' 29" |
| 7 | David Lozano (ESP) | Team Novo Nordisk | + 4' 40" |
| 8 | Suleiman Kangangi (KEN) | Kenya | + 4' 56" |
| 9 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | + 8' 17" |
| 10 | Didier Munyaneza (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | s.t. |

### Stage 5

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Biniam Girmay (ERI) | Eritrea | 3h 42' 01" |
| 2 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 3 | Daniel Turek (CZE) | Israel Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 4 | Didier Munyaneza (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | s.t. |
| 5 | Jeremy Bellicaud (FRA) | France U23 | s.t. |
| 6 | Moise Mugisha (RWA) | Rwanda | s.t. |
| 7 | Adrien Guillonnet (FRA) | Interpro Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 8 | Geoffrey Langat (KEN) | Kenya | s.t. |
| 9 | Valens Ndayisenga (RWA) | Rwanda | + 3" |
| 10 | Eric Manizabayo (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | + 47" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 17h 33' 37" |
| 2 | Rein Taaramäe (EST) | Direct Énergie | + 17" |
| 3 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 45" |
| 4 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 1' 00" |
| 5 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | + 4' 14" |
| 6 | David Lozano (ESP) | Team Novo Nordisk | + 4' 40" |
| 7 | Suleiman Kangangi (KEN) | Kenya | + 4' 56" |
| 8 | Didier Munyaneza (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | + 5' 00" |
| 9 | Jeremy Bellicaud (FRA) | France U23 | + 6' 19" |
| 10 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 6' 37" |

### Stage 6

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Przemysław Kasperkiewicz (POL) | Delko–Marseille Provence | 2h 49' 57" |
| 2 | Pablo Torres (ESP) | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 3" |
| 3 | Youcef Reguigui (ALG) | Algeria | + 4" |
| 4 | Henok Mulubrhan (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 5 | Julien Trarieux (FRA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 6 | Joonas Henttala (FIN) | Team Novo Nordisk | s.t. |
| 7 | Samuel Mugisha (RWA) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | s.t. |
| 8 | Valens Ndayisenga (RWA) | Rwanda | s.t. |
| 9 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 10 | Bruno Araújo (ANG) | BAI–Sicasal–Petro de Luanda | + 1' 19" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 20h 24' 53" |
| 2 | Rein Taaramäe (EST) | Direct Énergie | + 17" |
| 3 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 45" |
| 4 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 1' 00" |
| 5 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | + 4' 14" |
| 6 | David Lozano (ESP) | Team Novo Nordisk | + 4' 40" |
| 7 | Suleiman Kangangi (KEN) | Kenya | + 4' 56" |
| 8 | Didier Munyaneza (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | + 5' 00" |
| 9 | Valens Ndayisenga (RWA) | Rwanda | + 5' 35" |
| 10 | Jeremy Bellicaud (FRA) | France U23 | + 6' 19" |

### Stage 7

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | 2h 12' 35" |
| 2 | Alessandro Fedeli (ITA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 21" |
| 3 | Adrien Guillonnet (FRA) | Interpro Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 4 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | s.t. |
| 5 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 24" |
| 6 | Mulu Hailemichael (ETH) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | + 26" |
| 7 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 8 | David Lozano (ESP) | Team Novo Nordisk | s.t. |
| 9 | Moise Mugisha (RWA) | Rwanda | + 38" |
| 10 | Aurélien Doleatto (FRA) | France U23 | + 43" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 22h 38' 21" |
| 2 | Rein Taaramäe (EST) | Direct Énergie | + 7" |
| 3 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 18" |
| 4 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 31" |
| 5 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | + 3' 42" |
| 6 | David Lozano (ESP) | Team Novo Nordisk | + 4' 13" |
| 7 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | + 5' 50" |
| 8 | Suleiman Kangangi (KEN) | Kenya | + 6' 41" |
| 9 | Didier Munyaneza (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | + 6' 47" |
| 10 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 6' 53" |

### Stage 8

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Rodrigo Contreras (COL) | Astana | 1h 33' 10" |
| 2 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | + 1' 06" |
| 3 | Alessandro Fedeli (ITA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | s.t. |
| 4 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 5 | Mulu Hailemichael (ETH) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | s.t. |
| 6 | Adrien Guillonnet (FRA) | Interpro Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 7 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | s.t. |
| 8 | Rein Taaramäe (EST) | Direct Énergie | + 1' 09" |
| 9 | Jeremy Bellicaud (FRA) | France U23 | s.t. |
| 10 | Valens Ndayisenga (RWA) | Rwanda | + 1' 12" |

## Classification leadership table

| Stage | Winner | General classification | Sprints classification | Mountains classification | Young rider classification | Teams classification |
| 1 | Alessandro Fedeli | Alessandro Fedeli | Bonaventure Uwizeyimana | Rohan du Plooy | Alessandro Fedeli | Delko–Marseille Provence |
| 2 | Merhawi Kudus | Merhawi Kudus | Timothy Rugg | Pablo Torres | Joseph Areruya | Astana |
| 3 | Merhawi Kudus | Merhawi Kudus | Merhawi Kudus | Rohan du Plooy | Jérémy Bellicaud | Astana |
| 4 | Edwin Ávila | Merhawi Kudus | Rohan du Plooy | Pablo Torres | Yakob Debesay | Astana |
| 5 | Biniam Girmay | Merhawi Kudus | Rohan du Plooy | Moise Mugisha | Didier Munyaneza | Astana |
| 6 | Przemysław Kasperkiewicz | Merhawi Kudus | Rohan du Plooy | Moise Mugisha | Didier Munyaneza | Eritrea |
| 7 | Yakob Debesay | Merhawi Kudus | Rohan du Plooy | Moise Mugisha | Yakob Debesay | Eritrea |
| 8 | Rodrigo Contreras | Merhawi Kudus | Rohan du Plooy | Yakob Debesay | Yakob Debesay | Eritrea |
| Final | Final | Merhawi Kudus | Rohan du Plooy | Yakob Debesay | Yakob Debesay | Eritrea |

## Classifications

| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 24h 12' 37" |
| 2 | Rein Taaramäe (EST) | Direct Énergie | + 10" |
| 3 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 18" |
| 4 | Hernán Aguirre (COL) | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 31" |
| 5 | Sirak Tesfom (ERI) | Eritrea | + 4' 04" |
| 6 | David Lozano (ESP) | Team Novo Nordisk | + 4' 50" |
| 7 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | + 6' 51" |
| 8 | Suleiman Kangangi (KEN) | Kenya | + 7' 05" |
| 9 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 7' 10" |
| 10 | Rodrigo Contreras (COL) | Astana | + 7' 11" |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Rohan du Plooy (RSA) | ProTouch Sports | 26 |
| 2 | Timothy Rugg (USA) | BAI–Sicasal–Petro de Luanda | 16 |
| 3 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | 10 |
| 4 | Moise Mugisha (RWA) | Rwanda | 8 |
| 5 | Bonaventure Uwizeyimana (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | 6 |
| 6 | Adrien Guillonnet (FRA) | Interpro Cycling Academy | 5 |
| 7 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | 4 |
| 8 | Julien Trarieux (FRA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | 4 |
| 9 | Perrig Quéméneur (FRA) | Direct Énergie | 4 |
| 10 | Przemysław Kasperkiewicz (POL) | Delko–Marseille Provence | 3 |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | 80 |
| 2 | Moise Mugisha (RWA) | Rwanda | 72 |
| 3 | Adrien Guillonnet (FRA) | Interpro Cycling Academy | 51 |
| 4 | Pablo Torres (ESP) | Interpro Cycling Academy | 42 |
| 5 | Rodrigo Contreras (COL) | Astana | 41 |
| 6 | Mulu Hailemichael (ETH) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | 38 |
| 7 | Merhawi Kudus (ERI) | Astana | 26 |
| 8 | Samuel Mugisha (RWA) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | 23 |
| 9 | Matteo Badilatti (SUI) | Israel Cycling Academy | 16 |
| 10 | Rein Taaramäe (EST) | Direct Énergie | 14 |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Yakob Debesay (ERI) | Eritrea | 24h 19' 28" |
| 2 | Joseph Areruya (RWA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 19" |
| 3 | Jeremy Bellicaud (FRA) | France U23 | + 1' 16" |
| 4 | Henok Mulubrhan (ERI) | Eritrea | + 2' 41" |
| 5 | Mulu Hailemichael (ETH) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | + 6' 37" |
| 6 | Alessandro Fedeli (ITA) | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 7' 44" |
| 7 | Samuel Mugisha (RWA) | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | + 8' 28" |
| 8 | Eric Manizabayo (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | + 11' 35" |
| 9 | Didier Munyaneza (RWA) | Benediction Cycling Team | + 12' 10" |
| 10 | John Kariuki (KEN) | Kenya | + 17' 31" |
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Eritrea | 72h 49' 16" |
| 2 | Interpro Cycling Academy | + 2' 53" |
| 3 | Astana | + 6' 33" |
| 4 | Israel Cycling Academy | + 10' 23" |
| 5 | Delko–Marseille Provence | + 43' 02" |
| 6 | Benediction Cycling Team | + 46' 23" |
| 7 | Kenya | + 51' 16" |
| 8 | France U23 | + 1h 02' 06" |
| 9 | Direct Énergie | + 1h 09' 21" |
| 10 | Dimension Data for Qhubeka | + 1h 20' 08" |