Taillieu clinched the win on the 4.1 km individual time trial (ITT) route, starting at BK Arena and concluding at Amahoro Stadium, completing it in 3 minutes, 48 seconds, and 91 milliseconds.
His teammate, Milan Menten, claimed third place, trailing behind Fabien Doubey of TotalEnergies, who secured second place.
“This was a successful start for me as it was only a 4-minute trial, easing my challenge. My team is strong, and I’m optimistic about our performance in the upcoming days,” Taillieu noted.
The 2025 Tour du Rwanda marks the return of former champion Henok Mulubrhan, winner of the overall title in 2023.
Other notable returnees include Israel Premier Tech’s stage winners Metkel Eyob and Itamar Einhorn.
The race, featuring eight stages over 812 kilometers, includes a day-long stage from Rukomo to Kayonza, spanning 158 kilometers.
Despite the region’s recent unrest due to the M23 rebel group’s advancement in eastern DRC, the race has continued without any safety concerns.
The event is drawing significant participation from both cyclists and fans, with this year’s edition serving as a precursor to the UCI World Road Championships scheduled for September.
