Brit kick-starts pro career on the cobbles of Kigali

In his first race for Israel-Premier Tech, Joseph Blackmore won the Tour du Rwanda overall. He tells Adam Becket where it came from

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On the cobbled climb in downtown Kigali, Rwanda, known as the Mur de Kigali, a British Israel-Premier Tech rider in the race leader’s jersey surges forward, with overall victory in his grasp.

As hundreds cram the roadside to witness the action, it is not Chris Froome who is in the race lead, racing to the win, but a man almost 18 years his junior, Joseph Blackmore.

The 21-year-old from south London is in his first race as a professional, only his second elite event ever, and on his way to becoming the champion of the Tour du Rwanda. Not a bad start to life on the Israel-Premier Tech Academy, the squad’s development team.

“It was incredible to win, I did the race last year with the national team, so to come back and have a higher level, it was incredible,” he told Cycling Weekly the week after returning from Africa. “I’m super-happy.”

No pressure 

That final stage, though, was special, an incredible ride from someone just setting out in the sport. Perhaps because he is unburdened by pressure, expectation, and the past, he rode away from the field, eventually beating Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies), a Grand Tour stage winner, by 30 seconds.