In the days leading up to the opening stage of the Tour du Rwanda, there was one rider who did not shy away from questions about his chances of winning.
During the team presentation and at the race press conference, Israeli sprinter Itamar Einhorn openly declared that he expected to win. Minutes before the start, when we asked about his plan for the day, he simply smiled: “To win, of course.”
After dominating the sprint to victory at the end of the rainy 173.6km stage to Rwamagana, it would be easy to judge him as cocky — but he is not. What stands behind his words is a deep trust in his teammates and strong self-confidence in what he can achieve when he is at his best.
As it turned out, he was absolutely right on both fronts — especially regarding the dedication of the NSN squad. “They were great,” said Sports Director Lahav Davidzon. “Actually, it was harder than it looked.”
When a breakaway of five riders, later reduced to two, gained a five-minute advantage, it became clear that no other team was willing to help with the chase. The responsibility fell entirely on the NSN riders – and they delivered. Moritz Kretschy worked tirelessly throughout the day, and when more support was needed, Zac Marriage and even GC contender Pau Martí stepped up to the task.
“I owe them a lot,” said Einhorn. “But with 10km to go, I was a bit worried. I was so relieved when we finally caught the breakaway at 1km to the finish. From there, I followed Fin Tarling’s wheel and knew nobody would stop us.
“This victory gives me a lot of satisfaction. I came here very well prepared and in good shape, and I was rewarded for my decision to arrive in Rwanda early to acclimatize. Now I’m already looking forward to helping the team with our GC ambitions – and, of course, to trying for more sprint victories when the opportunities come.”
