Javi Serrano, 4th in the second stage of the Tour du Rwanda

The fast rider from Madrid sprinted the undulating finish in Kibeho to stay just outside the podium and show a great attitude of Team Polti Kometa at the start of the Tour du Rwanda.

Yesterday’s debut in the team time trial was followed today by the first stage on route of the Tour of Rwanda. A short stage, in which a breakaway of three riders was allowed while the main peloton rode calmly waiting for the decisive moments.

Already in the last 40 kilometres, the pace was accelerated to reduce the more than 7 minutes that the leaders had and to prepare for the sprint finish. The good attitude of Team Polti Kometa, who worked with Andrea Garosio during the day, and the positioning in the final part looking for an optimal position to compete in the sprint, were not enough to raise the arms. Fourth place for Javi Serrano that leaves the team wanting more.

Biagio Conte: “I think we did well, withstanding the heat and the altitude. This made the stage tougher for the guys, along with the 29 degree heat. The breakaway went more than 7 minutes and we worked with Garosio to control the gap. We caught them with 10 kilometres to go. Manuel Peñalver especially paid for these conditions in the final part of the race and that’s why we went for Javi Serrano. They were well placed, it was a pity that in the last corner he couldn’t go to the front against stronger riders. But tomorrow we have another chance”.

Javi Serrano: “It was a very different stage to what we are used to. It was slow at the start with the breakaway, we set the pace with Soudal QuickStep, and in the last 50 kilometres it was a madness of attacks and counterattacks. We were able to control, my team-mates helped me and although we were a little bit behind in the last corner, I was able to finish fourth. We felt good and it’s time to recover and try to improve this position in the next stages”.

Tomorrow, 141 kilometres will be ridden in the third stage, with seven climbs in a day that will exceed 2000 metres in altitude in several sections. The finish, with the Cote de Bumazi in the last 15 kilometres, should see another sprint, although probably a bit more selected.