Gladiators Cycling club’s rider Victor Cudjoe Akpabli controlled stage 3 of the ongoing National Tour Du Ghana in a sterling cruise over the finish line with a time of 3:17:50 from the Accra sports stadium through Adenta into Dodowa, cutting though the greeny avenue to Larteh where the beautiful but difficult hill had to be “pruned”.
The Disintegrated peloton had to navigate the forest zone atop Larteh before descending into the Peduase vicinity through to Ayi Mensah back to the Accra sports stadium.
Prince Quartey of the Boss Tribe Cycling club came second in same time with Kako Justin of Team Sky finishing in third place, “eating” up two intermediate sprints at Dodowa and Larteh.
The stage covered a distance of 146km/hr with an average speed of 42.2 km/hr with 67 riders starting the stage race.
The publicity ride from the Accra sports stadium through Adenta into Ayi Mensah was exquisite. Donning a colourful blend of cowbell and BIC Jerseys, the busy peloton attracted the chants and cheers from the gaping spectators on the shoulders of the road.
By the time the peloton hit the Adenta enclave,the white flag had been signalled for the commencement of road hostilities.
Anthony Boakye of River Park Brong Ahafo,Frank Akuffo Awuku of Team Boss Tribe and Gladiator’s Victor Cudjoe Akpabli had already sped off.
The Dodowa bend was even more spectacular as the desirous bunch snaked through to Oyibi and furthered into Dodowa. The boys had been separated from the men at this stage.
The riders’ grit and grim on the Larteh hills was phenomenal. A certain terrain for climbers, reminiscing the previous exploits of the likes of Henry Tetteh Djangmah formerly of Die Hard Cycling club in Dome.
Many tired legs succumbed to Larteh. But in finality they had to finish the assignment. Two breakaways had been established at this juncture down the Peduase stretch.
The breakaway bunch had the likes of Boakye,Prince Quartey, and Victor Cudjoe in the fold. They would be spinning at an average speed of 80km in the descent into Ayi Mensah.
Frank Akuffo Awuku of Team Boss Tribe,Prince Kwesi, Peter Osei, Gabriel Tetteh were all domiciled in the second breakaway bunch.
The traffic impediment along the Adenta and 37 roads were a major obstacle to the approaching second bunch whose inner desire to catch up with the leading bunch was in obvious futility.
Lance Corporal Renata,the female Police dispatch and Lance Corporal Emmanuel Opoku were excellent on the day, marshalling the riders’ through the dense traffic.
It was a forgone conclusion for Anthony Boakye and Frank Akuffo Awuku as the slippery Victor Cudjoe Akpabli of Gladiators had wiped the third stage in style.
Saturday is a rest day with all riders and Officials observing the Eid Adhar.
Sunday will see yet another brutal road work from the Accra sports stadium to Sogakope and back to Ada for the final finish covering a heated distance of 156km.
The yellow jersey is still in the fold of Anthony Boakye with a thin difference of 6 seconds between the former and TBT sprinter Frank Akuffo Awuku.
The pen ultimate race will be extra interesting to watch as the battle for the prized leaders Jersey continues to wallow in jealousy.
Ada will be the final decider and all eyes will be on River Park Brong Ahafo and TBT. For sure.
This year’s National Tour Du Ghana is proudly brought to you by kind courtesy of Promadisor Gh, producers of cowbell products, BIC, Riyahd Constructions Ltd, IQRA LTD, S-sports,and liteblue events.
Dennis Kweku Moore
Cycling Writer/ commentator
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