Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team’s excellent week continued when the promising Belgian moved into the race lead.
The yellow jersey is back on the shoulders of a Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team rider. After Ethan Vernon sported it for two consecutive days at the beginning of the week, the tunic is now held by William Junior Lecerf, the 20-year-old who last season took an impressive fourth overall at the Girobio.
Twenty-four hours after concluding runner-up in Karongi – the race’s first hilltop finish – William came close to another podium on the stage to Rubavu, which featured a total of six classified climbs, including the 21.1km Gishwati National Forest. The Belgian was part of a select 14-man group that braved the inclement weather and pulled away on the penultimate ascent of the stage, crossing the line in fourth place, a result which bumped him into the overall lead.
“The stage was already hard, and the rain didn’t make things any easier. The speed was high from the start, but luckily, I could save some energy despite the relentless course, thanks to my teammates – Ethan, Pepijn and Gil. On the longest climb of the day a selection was made, we worked well together and we just kept. I didn’t finish in the top three, but my result was enough to take the yellow jersey, which is really special. It won’t be easy, but we will try to defend it”, said Lecerf, who has a two-second gap in the general classification.
Photo credit: ©Tour du Rwanda
