” The race wasn’t easy but I was determined to win”: These are the exact words of the Brong Ahafo River Park roller, Anthony Boakye after he tore off the entire peloton in over 2 minutes to cruise to an astonishing stage 1 finish at this year’s National Tour Du Ghana in a time of 3:36:42.
Boakye shared the same time finish with Team Boss Tribe’s sprinter Frank Akuffo Awuku in second position with River Park Accra’s Emmanuel Otukornor Sackey to third place.
72 cyclists started the road hostilities in fashion in a heated 126km assignment from the Accra sports stadium through some principal areas in Accra and then accelerated from MacCarthy Hills into the central Region terrain of Winneba.
Even in its demonstration stage some petty attacks were imminent the race wouldn’t be taken lightly by these wheelers.
By the time the entire bunch entered the Kasoa vicinity, there had been a breakaway of about five cyclist including Solomon Tagoe of Gutten Cycling club, Isaac Sackey of Sky Team and current yellow jersey holder, Anthony Boakye of River Park Brong Ahafo.
With his exploits in the just ended Accra Championship where this same lad controlled matters, he became the cynosure of this very stage and all eyes centered on him.
The peloton disintegrated into pieces with Boakye dropping into the rear – but that was a decoy.
An average speed of 37km/hr could best describe the bunch as they negotiated the Buduburam stretch with occasional attacks from the young riders.
The crowd lined up on the shoulders of the road amidst such thirsty chants on seeing Cycling back on the road after a long spell.
The sun shine profusely. And this attracted some friendly punctures on the road but quite interestingly the experienced riders were not affected, talking of the likes of Frank Akuffo, Anthony Boakye,Emmanuel Otukornor Sackey (Bush), amongst others.
Along the Dominase stretch,the earlier relay bunch had totally dispersed into an attacking string closing in on a 30km pace into Winneba.
The turn around at the Winneba roundabout was incredibly spectacular as the mindset of hitting an attack early rang in the riders’ mind. It was swift,hot and intense.
The return journey from Winneba looked shorter than we expected. A few vehicular obstacles had obstructed the free flow of firepower and time.
The likes of Emmanuel Sackey, Anthony Boakye and Frank Akuffo,Isaac Sackey, and young prodigy from the Team Sky fold Joseph Nii Quaye had sprang off.
Entering into the Kasoa, the commentary Van had noticed the breakaway of Anthony Boakye. The follow up close up shot on the young lad confirmed an incredible lead of about 2mins and something seconds.
By this time the entire peloton were no where near the sunyani based rider. Not the least.
Boakye maintained a steady roll on the cranks, occasionally cooling off with chilled water yet focused.
He entered Odorkor through to Kaneshie upwards into Flamingo with all eyeballs set on him. Trotro drivers , mechanics, sellers and all were looked on with glee.
He floated along the Flamingo Region, with a commanding split of the entire bunch behind him and landed on the Korle Gonno stretch where he gathered yet more steam in the rotating legs.
Route miscommunication allowed part of the breakaway bunch to close up with Boakye on the “Lavender Hill” area but it was nakedly obvious Boakye would still be given his time.
The Sunyani based cyclist negotiated a quick bend around the Liberation circle area after a hectic traffic meander from the National Theater round into the sports stadium.
The “short-cut” bunch snaked around the “Access Bank” curve together with Boakye into the final finish but none of them would equal the latter’s accumulation of road combativity and time accrued.
Anthony Boakye clings onto the Yellow jersey,Green Jersey and the best fighters jersey predictably.
Joseph Nii Amar Quaye of Sky Team who has fast established himself as a dangerous rider won the youngest Jersey.
The best Team in the first stage went to The Boss Tribe Cycling club in Accra.
Today’s race will see a battle on the Suhum stretch encompassing a 134km bitter distance.
With just 4 seconds apart between Anthony Boakye and his nemesis,Frank Akuffo, can the Sunyani based wheeler maintain the Jersey. The road would be the real determinant.
The Tour is being sponsored by Promadisor Gh Ltd producers of cowbell products, BIC, Riyahd Constructions, E-Sports and Live blue events.
Dennis Kweku Moore
Cycling Writer/ commentator
Email: moorecycling67@gmail.com
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