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Chris Froome made his 2024 racing debut on Sunday on the primary stage of the Tour du Rwanda, and kicked off his yr with a second place alongside his Israel-Premier Tech squad within the opening group time trial.
Israel-Premier Tech, one among 4 ProTeams in motion in Rwanda, had been bested by the Soudal Quick-Step Development group who received the 18km TTT in Kigali. Jonathan Vervenne now leads the race.
The Belgian squad, led by AlUla Tour breakout star William Junior Lecerf, posted a time of 20:32 within the Rwandan capital, 36 seconds up on Froome and co at 21:08. Lotto Dstny Development took third.
The four-time Tour de France winner was joined by Man Sagiv, Itamar Einhorn, Joe Blackmore and Moritz Kretschy within the Israel-Premier Tech line-up for the TT, and took on an early pacing function earlier than dropping off as three riders crossed the end line collectively. Froome completed 5:21 down on the remainder of his group.
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Nonetheless, the occasions on this stage don’t depend in the direction of the GC of the eight-day race in Rwanda, so Froome will begin stage 2 on equal time along with his rivals.
In 2023, Froome additionally raced the Tour du Rwanda, occurring an extended however narrowly unsuccessful breakaway on one of many phases. He informed native media this morning that he had “unfinished enterprise” with the race as he kicks off his 2024 season in Africa.
In addition to his private ambitions and hyperlinks to the continent of Africa, Froome’s presence in Rwanda is partly to do with Israel-Premier Tech’s relationship with Rwanda. Final yr, they launched their ‘Subject of Desires’ biking centre Bugesera, a part of the group’s Racing for Change initiative. As such, it is sensible for them to ship a giant star to the two.1 race.
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There are a selection of jerseys from the WorldTour on the beginning checklist, however all have despatched their growth groups to Rwanda, with the youth-focused squads of Soudal Fast-Step, Astana-Qazaqstan, UAE Crew Emirates and Groupama-FDJ in motion this week.
After Rwanda, Chris Froome is anticipated to observe a stage race-focussed programme by way of the spring, as he builds in the direction of an extended hoped-for Tour de France return.
Discover the complete outcomes of the Tour du Rwanda stage 1 TTT here.
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