Cristian Rodriguez wins Tour du Rwanda 2021

Spanish cyclist, Christian Rodríguez Martin of Team Total Direct Energie has become the first European rider to win 2.1 category Tour du Rwanda.

Rodríguez, 26, registered double blow by winning last stage-the Queen stage of this year edition-and topped the General classification to become the first Spaniard to win the Tour of Rwanda.

Being a Champion of the 13th edition of Tour du Rwanda was no mean feat. The edition had several teams with dozens of seasoned riders who have raced in World Tour races and that fact that Rodríguez went into the final stage with just a 5-seconds advantage ahead of second-placed Jhonathan Restrepo (Team Androni Giacattooli) in General Classification made the victory difficult to reach but even sweater at the end for the Spaniard.

After the victory, Cristian Rodriguez, the winner of the stage said: “I hadn’t really planned to attack on the last climb but when I saw all the work my team had done, I told myself that I had to try something before my opponents. It was the best way to avoid losing my jersey. But I was still confident. It’s my first professional victory, and I will always remember it. “

It was truly a successful tour, raced under difficult circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic with limited cycling fans by the roadside compared to what we know of the Rwandan cycling fans, but the organising team and Rwanda Government authorities ensured a safe race for everyone involved.

Read more on the website of Tour du Rwanda.