In a mountainous day full of excitement, Jhonatan Restrepo won the third stage of the Tour of Rwanda 2024. The 29-year-old Colombian cyclist from Polti-Kometa was the fastest in a reduced peloton after riding 140.3 kilometers between Huye and Rusizi. Dutchman Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal – Quick-Step Devo Team) is the new leader.
The rider from Caldas took the victory in his specialty, after passing six mountain passes during the route. In the second position came the British Joseph Blackmore (Israel Premier Tech). Meanwhile, Germán Darío Gómez (Polti-Kometa) finished 16th with the same time as his compatriot.
The breakaway of the day was led by Yoel Habteab (Bike Aid), Didier Munyaneza (Rwanda), Hekketdy Seit (May Stars), Shafik Mugalu (May Stars), Dillon Geary (South Africa) and Etienne Tuyizere (Java Inovotec), however, all were neutralized by the bunch.
In the peloton, the Soudal Quick-Step development team set the pace and always kept the breakaway under control. In the closing stages, William Junior Lecerf went on the attack after the last climb, but was caught in the last kilometers.
This Wednesday, February 21, the fourth stage of the prestigious African race will be contested, with another mountainous day, over a 93-kilometer course, which includes five categorized passes.
Stage 3 | Huye – Rusizi (140,3 km)
| 1 | Jhonatan Restrepo | Team Polti Kometa | 3:46:41 |
| 2 | Joseph Blackmore | Israel – Premier Tech | ,, |
| 3 | Pepijn Reinderink | Soudal – Quick-Step Devo Team | ,, |
| 4 | Johan Meens | Bingoal WB | ,, |
| 5 | Fabien Doubey | TotalEnergies | ,, |
Ranking General
| 1 | Pepijn Reinderink | Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team | 7:04:12 |
| 2 | Giacomo Villa | Bingoal WB | m.t. |
| 3 | William Junior Lecerf | Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team | m.t. |
| 4 | Jhonatan Restrepo | Team Polti Kometa | m.t. |
| 5 | Joseph Blackmore | Israel-Premier Tech | m.t |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico