Who was leading the space race in April of 1961?

By April 1961, the Soviet Union was leading the space race, having achieved significant milestones, including the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 and the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961. Gagarin's successful orbit around the Earth marked a major victory for the USSR and intensified competition with the United States. This event highlighted the technological advancements of the Soviets and set the stage for further developments in the space race.