November 26, 2012 (Kigali, Rwanda) – Garneau-Québecor rider Bruno Langlois won the final stage of the Tour of Rwanda on Sunday, attacking a four-man breakaway and once again finishing alone at Amahoro National Stadium, where the Tour began seven days ago.

Between pulls from a double-magnum bottle awarded by Tour title sponsor Skol Beer, Langlois’ account of his winning move makes it sound so easy.

“I knew the other guys were tiring. One of the Reine Blanche riders missed a pull. I got a five metre gap and went for it,” said Langlois, twisting his fist and adding a motorbike sound.

The breakaway was established early in the relatively flat 103.5km stage. The weather and expections for the day were put best by the Tour’s official Twitter: “It’s a warm climate, sunny but with a good breath. It’s a condition that favours everyone in as far as the race is concerned.”

The conditions, in this case, favoured the Canadians. With no GC contenders in the move, Team South Africa and primary rivals UCI Continental Center allowed the small breakaway to go. With Langlois the primary motor, the break established a five-minute gap by the turn-around in Rwamagana.

The true test of the day came in the final five kilometres, with a sudden 180-degree left hander onto the “stone road”—a cobbled 5.6 per cent, 1.3km climb into the nation’s capital—followed by a small descent and a final crushing 10–15 per cent kicker before the wide open finish. By that point Langlois had already left Christophe Menini of the French Team Reine Blanche, Reda Benoua of Team Algeria, and Paolo Cravanzola of the American Team Type 1 behind.

Suffice to say when the peloton finished its casual jaunt back to Kigali it exploded on the cobbles, with shrapnel arriving every 30 seconds. Team South Africa was never far behind, however, and maintained its yellow jersey for Daren Lill, winning the  overall Tour title.