Matthijs De Clercq of Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team sprinted to victory in Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour du Rwanda, crossing the finish line in Rubavu after a thrilling 127.2 km from Karongi. De Clercq edged out Moritz Kretschy (NSN Development Team), who retains the overall race lead, in a nail-biting finish.
The stage was defined by early attacks from Rwandan riders Manizabayo and Byukusenge, who made several attempts to break clear. The duo led the race together around the halfway point before being caught by the chasing pack. Manizabayo launched a solo attack soon after but was reeled in within a couple of kilometers.
By kilometer 67, the breakaway group had stretched a 4-minute 30-second advantage over the peloton. The front group worked well together, maintaining their gap as they approached Rubavu. At kilometer 82, the lead riders held a 15-second edge over Cuylits, with a 30-second buffer ahead of the rest of the breakaway.
De Clercq’s explosive sprint in the final meters secured him the stage win with a time of 3:05:55, just ahead of Kretschy who crossed simultaneously. Luke Finlay Tarling (NSN Development Team) completed the podium in third place at 3:06:10.
Despite missing out on the stage win, Kretschy remains the overall leader in the General Classification (GC) with a cumulative time of 14:02:34. Johannes Adamietz (REMBE | Rad-Net) climbed into second place, trailing by 2 minutes and 2 seconds.
As the race progresses to Stage 5 from Rubavu – Rubavu 84km, the battle for the yellow jersey remains wide open. With challenging terrain ahead, the remaining stages promise intense competition and plenty of drama..
Stage 4 Top 10 Results:
Matthijs De Clercq (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team) – 3:05:55
Moritz Kretschy (NSN Development Team) – 3:05:55
Luke Finlay Tarling (NSN Development Team) – 3:06:10
