Fabien Doubey of TotalEnergies won the Tour du Rwanda 2025, crediting his teammates for their support in challenging conditions. The seventh stage was cancelled due to severe weather, confirming standings from Stage 6. Despite the cancellation, Rwandan cyclists showcased strong performances, and preparations for future events, including the UCI Road World Championship, continue under the direction of Sports Minister Mukazayire.
Fabien Doubey, the noteworthy rider from TotalEnergies, has credited his Tour du Rwanda 2025 victory to the exceptional teamwork displayed by his colleagues. Winning was announced by the main sponsor Amstel based on the general classification results from Stage 6 held on March 1, starting from Nyanza to Canal Olympia in Rebero. The final victory was confirmed after the cancellation of the seventh stage due to severe weather conditions.
Post-victory, Doubey expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating, “Our team did a great job. It wasn’t easy to ride through this country’s weather conditions for us, but as a team, we persevered.” The last stage was cancelled amidst bad weather, which had raised concerns about safety.
Moreover, Doubey and his team protested against competing in the final stage, which generated tension with their rivals, particularly Eritrea and Henok Mulubrhan, who was just 6 seconds behind Doubey. Doubey maintained that it was unsafe to continue racing due to the heavy rains that began shortly before the scheduled race start.
Originally, the stage was to cover 72 kilometers, but conditions forced UCI officials to shorten it significantly. The revised route excluded slippery sections but later, with intensified rainfall, UCI officials determined it was unsafe to race and cancelled the event—following Article 2 of UCI regulations regarding race conduct.
As a result, final standings were based purely on the Stage 6 results, leading to an emotional first Tour du Rwanda win for Doubey as he now turns his focus to preparing for the UCI Road World Championship scheduled in September. He remarked, “I’m going to prepare for the world championship, so let’s see what’s next in September.”
In this 17th edition of the tour, Vainqueur Masengesho of Team Rwanda secured the seventh position, while additional Rwandan talents, such as Shemu Nsengiyumva and Samuel Niyonkuru, earned accolades for their respective performances in climbing and breakaway categories. Rwandan Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire lauded the event, stating that despite weather challenges, it exhibited the nation’s preparedness for upcoming international competitions.
Mukazayire emphasized the importance of developing Rwandan cyclists to compete at higher levels while indicating that the challenges faced during the Tour du Rwanda provided valuable lessons for future events. She concluded by affirming ongoing preparations for the UCI World Championships, underscoring the nation’s intent to excel in major sports endeavors.
In summary, Fabien Doubey’s victory at the Tour du Rwanda 2025 was a testament to his team’s collective effort amidst challenging weather conditions. The cancellation of the final stage, due to unsafe racing conditions, led to final classifications being determined by previous stages. As Doubey prepares for the UCI Road World Championship, Rwandan athletes have also shown promise in this year’s competition, indicating potential for further cycling development within the nation.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
