At 2:43 PM Rwanda time, one hour ahead of Italy, an enthusiastic crowd at the Kayonza finish line applauds the winner Henok Mulubrhan, Eritrean national defending the colors of XdS Astana. Second is young Israeli Rotem Tene (Israel Premier Tech Academy) and third is French rider Lorrenzo Manzin from TotalEnergies, with Belgian Milan Menten from Lotto taking fourth place.

Mulubhan is the race's beacon, after winning it in 2023. The first stage of the Tour of Rwanda must be interpreted in light of the competitive result, although this race has once again demonstrated its ability to capture the great passion of an entire nation, kilometer after kilometer, face after face along the roadside.

Immediately after the start from Rukomo, the Rwanda national team rider Didier Munyaneza staged an intense and courageous breakaway, first alone and then in the company of a compatriot, Mike Uwiduhaye, South African Daniela Matthews and Greek Nikolaos Zeglkis (May Stars). As expected, the peloton targeted Munyaneza, who was the last to surrender to the comeback towards a compact sprint, just three kilometers from the finish.

FINISH ORDER

1. Mulubrhan Henok (Eritrea) in 03:57:52
2. Tene Rotem (Israel-Premier Tech)
3. Manzin Lorrenzo (Team TotalEnergies)
4. Menten Milan (Lotto Development Team)
5. Gilmore Brady (Israel-Premier Tech)
6. Mattheis Oliver (BIKE AID)
7. Peace Oliver (Development Team Picnic PostNL)
8. Delbove Joris (Team TotalEnergies)
9. Tesfay Amanuel (Centre Mondial du Cyclisme)
10. Habteab Yoel (BIKE AID)