Baum and Kiptala win Rwandan Epic 2025 penultimate stage

Lukas Baum and Daniel Kiptala, a German-Kenyan duo, surged to the Rwandan Epic 2025 penultimate stage win in the Duo Men category on Thursday, December 4.

The Cape Epic champion and Kenya’s top mountain biker came into the second-shortest circuit in this year’s race with strong chances for triumph due to their past successes on similar courses, and they lived up to those expectations.

They completed the 29.8-kilometre route, which took place around the Kwita Izina grounds in Kinigi, in one hour, 13 minutes, and 34 seconds to clinch their first stage victory in this year’s race.

“Today we tried to make it fast from the beginning, as always, then we managed to get away and be in front alone. I think it was the team’s performance today,” said Lukas Baum after winning stage four.

Zambian duo Levy Pyele and Ernest Mazabuka, who took third place in stage three, finished second, arriving four minutes and 51 seconds behind the stage four winners.

The Rwandan-Dutch duo of Bukhari Banzi and Louis van Zeeland, who won stage one, came in third place

On the other hand, Martha Ntakirutimana and Elodie Kuijper, a Rwandan-Dutch duo, impresssed once again in the Duo Women Category, sealing stage four win in one hour, five minutes, and 16 seconds.

South African duo Bianca Haw and Wade Young were, again, at the centre of attention in the Duo Mixed category as they sealed stage four in 59 minutes and 20 seconds.

They have now won every stage of the Rwandan Epic 2025 so far.

Oscar Pujol and Mude Rodriguez, a Spanish duo, finished second, arriving three minutes and 56 seconds off the South Africans.

The Rwandan Epic 2025 winners will be determined by the final stage on Friday, December 5, with the race starting in Nemba and concluding in Shyorongi over a 77.3-kilometre circuit, the longest one of this year’s race.

Photo: Rwandan Epic 2025 stage four takes place around the Kwita Izina grounds in Kinigi.

Photo: Bikers pause for a picture at the Kwita Izina grounds.