- First of all I thank my team for a huge support during this race! I thank my teammates and all the staff, the team was absolutely amazing, motivating and encouraging me every day! Today’s stage was short and hard, but we could control it perfectly, from start and until the finish line. We had a good tactic for this stage: Rodrigo attacked on the second lap, while I remained in the group, controlling my main rivals. Today I felt quite good and my plan was just to defend the jersey and not to risk. In the end, everything worked out as we planned, we took 1-2 in this stage and I won the yellow jersey. I am so happy with my win, but, of course, it couldn’t be possible without my teammates, - said Merhawi Kudus.

The Tour du Rwanda has been ended with an iconic short stage (61.7 km) in Kigali with a triple pass of the legendary cobbled climb Mur de Kigali. After many attempts, it was Astana’s Rodrigo Contreras, who broke away clear with around 20 km to go. Storming on Mur de Kigali, Contreras was able to get a good advantage of 50 seconds, enough to take his maiden victory as Astana Pro Team rider.

- It was a long and hard race with a few stages with cobbles in the end. But, finally, we did it! We won the general classification and three stages, so, we can be more than happy! I am happy to take my personal victory, it is so nice to win here in Rwanda, for the first time in Astana jersey. We have spent a nice week and now I am looking forward to the next goals of the season, - said Rodrigo Contreras.

Behind the shoulders of Contreras, the battlefield for the general classification remained for Merhawi Kudus, who finished second in this stage, closing all the questions about the 2019 Tour du Rwanda overall winner.

Thus, Rodrigo Contreras and Merhawi Kudus brought Astana Pro Team the 14th and 15th wins in the current season. Besides, today’s success of Kudus is Astana’s 7th victory in general classification of stage races.

Classifications 2019 after the stage 8

Su. 03/03 | Stage 8 | 61.7km | Kigali > Kigali

Stage Winner

Stage classification

RANK RIDER RIDER NO. TEAM TIMES

1 Rodrigo CONTRERAS PINZON 23 Astana Pro Team 01H33'10"

2 Merhawi KUDUS 21 Astana Pro Team 01H34'16"

3 Alessandro FEDELI 52 Delko Marseille Provence 01H34'16"

4 Hernan Ricardo AGUIREE CAIPA 111 Interpro Cycling Academy 01H34'16"

5 Mulu HAILEMICHAEL 2 Dimension Data For Qhubeka 01H34'16"

6 Adrien GUILLONNET 112 Interpro Cycling Academy 01H34'16"

7 Matteo BADILATTI 73 Israel Cycling Academy 01H34'16"

8 Rein TAARAMAE 41 Direct Energie 01H34'19"

9 Jeremy BELLICAUD 92 Equipe De France Espoirs 01H34'19"

10 Valens NDAYISENGA 12 Rwanda 01H34'22"

General classification

General classification

RANK RIDER RIDER NO. TEAM TIMES

1 Merhawi KUDUS 21 Astana Pro Team 24H12'37"

2 Rein TAARAMAE 41 Direct Energie 24H12'47"

3 Matteo BADILATTI 73 Israel Cycling Academy 24H12'55"

4 Hernan Ricardo AGUIREE CAIPA 111 Interpro Cycling Academy 24H13'08"

5 Sirak TESFOM 31 ERYTHREE 24H16'41"

6 David LOZANO RIBA 81 Team Novo Nordisk 24H17'27"

7 Yakob DEBESAY ABREHAM 33 ERYTHREE 24H19'28"

8 Suleiman KANGANGI 151 Kenya 24H19'42"

9 Joseph ARERUYA 51 Delko Marseille Provence 24H19'47"

10 Rodrigo CONTRERAS PINZON 23 Astana Pro Team 24H19'48"