NATIONAL TOUR DU GHANA: ANTHONY BOAKYE RESPONDS TO CRITICS BY WINNING THE YELLOW JERSEY IN LAST STAGE

“When the dye is cast, community play elapses”. This is one proverb that is truly translative in our local set up.

The 5 day National Tour Du Ghana has finally ended in blistering fashion over the weekend at the Ablekuma Olebu stretch.

It was a 97.5km criterium combing a boiling 15 laps with 67 riders in action.

And who else? River Park’s Anthony Boakye once again established his dominance in Cycling as the best rider on the rankings at the moment.

He swept off the Green Jersey signifying the best by points accumulated and the best by time identified by the Ultimate Yellow jersey.

The 97.5km criterium,which enrolled 62 riders from the various clubs were honestly not push overs in their own class.

The prize money at stake was necessary but that had been superceded by fame and fury. River Park Brong Ahafo and Team Boss Tribe (TBT) were interesting “foes”.

The race began on a slow pace as each team rearranged its members in stead position. In such criteriums, experience is key. Anthony Boakye, Victor Cudjoe Akpabli Isaac Sackey, and a few others wielded such prowess.

By the 9th lap the bunch had began to disintegrate , but grit and character continued to show on the weary faces of these riders as they were not leaving any stone unturned to finish the race. Some however gave up and excused themselves on the shoulder of the road.

The breakaway of four riders on five laps to go was highly anticipated by seers of the game to finish up the race with an interval of 40 seconds. But that couldn’t materialize as they were caught up by the hardworking peloton on three laps to finish.

The heat exhibited by the bunch was extremely complimentary especially with the number of riders who completed the laps.

With the stage craft blowing on the other side of the road,the crowd had a double spectacle to cheer about. Yet all attention was focused on who crosses the finish line on the last lap.

Togolese import Dedenu Laurent,who for me has been the dark horse in this exercise sprang to an incredible stage finish ,raised both hands up and yelled in victory. His second stage mount in this Tour.

Frank Akuffo Awuku of Team Boss Tribe came second with new kid sensation Joseph Nii Quaye Amar of Sky Team fetching the third spot.

The National Tour Du Ghana spanned across five regions, Winneba in the Central Region, Suhum and Larteh ,both in the Eastern Region, Sogakope in the Volta Region and the Greater Accra Region.

Notable sponsors included Promasidor Gh producers of cowbell products, BIC producers of BIC Pens and shavers Riyard Constructions, dealers in housing projects, S-Sports and Liteblue events.

The Federation was also supported by the Ministry of Youth and sports,the National Sports Authority and the Ghana Olympic committee.

All attention will now be focused on the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and with these two crucial events organized by the Federation, the action is set to roll in the Road and Track disciplines in some few days to come.

Dennis Kweku Moore
Cycling Writer/ commentator