TEAM EPIC’S JOSEPH ZUBIL SHOCKS ABDUL MALIK ALHASSAN FROM NIGERIA TO SECURE THE ULTIMATE AT THIS YEAR’S OSAGYEFO CRITERIUM RACE

TEAM EPIC’S JOSEPH ZUBIL SHOCKS ABDUL MALIK ALHASSAN FROM NIGERIA TO SECURE THE ULTIMATE AT THIS YEAR’S OSAGYEFO CRITERIUM RACE

Team Epic’s Joseph Zubil pulled a shocker at this year’s Elite Men criterium in the 3rd Edition of the Osagyefo Race at the Accra Sports stadium over a heated circuit of 129.5km in a gruelling 25 laps pinning down an average speed of 38.93km/hr to edge out Team Subsea of Nigerian sprinter Abdul Malik Yusif Alhassan in a time of 3:19:35.

The Nigerian import came through in a time of 3:19:36 to place second with veteran wheeler and Gladiators sprinter Nuru Pardie Alhassan coming through 3:29:36 to the third spot.

The initial 5 laps was full of attacks with the likes of Lawrence Adjei, Prince Tetteh, Michael Naaba pulling up the entire bunch registering an average speed of at most 41km/hr.

The conference centre part of the road slowed down the bunch who got dispersed midway into the 15th lap.

A series of breakaways was very evident between the Nigerian Abdul Malik Yusif Alhassan and especially Michael Naaba.

By the 20th lap, the consistency of the breakaway quartet Michael Naaba, Michael Agbublah, Maxwell Doku and the dangerous Nigerian.

The breakaway Team maintained a steady lead six laps into finish. Quality relay work was the decider that saw them maintained their cadence output.

Two more laps to the finish, and the four riders still maintained the steady loop, with the Nigerian heavily tipped to strike from the back to the finish.

Joseph Zubil, around the Accra Sports stadium bend had initiated his attack . He sprang from the back of the Nigerian, stood on the bike and powdered home his first victory in years.

Zubil took home a medal and a cash prize of Gh15,000. Abdul Malik Yusif Alhassan took home Gh7000 with Gladiators finisher Nuru Pardie Alhassan taking home a cool Gh5000.

The 4-10th riders, Michael Doku, Lawrence Adjei, Joseph Nii Amar Quaye, Michael Agbublah, Prince Tetteh, Prince Maison, and John Gabriel took home Gh1000 each with the oldest rider Annan Adams picking up Gh1000.

The female category saw a 77.7km over 15laps registering an average speed of 32.54km/hr and yet again Ese okpeseraye from Nigeria finishing in a time of 2:15:17: to secure the first spot with Mary Samuel placing second in 2:23:55 to come second. Treasure Coxson picked the third spot in 2:23:55.

The likes of Happiness Ernest, Patience Efian Otuodung, Tombrapa Grikpa, Rosemary Marcus, Daborah Alarsbieton, Erica Sedzro and Abigail Tetteh had a bad day picking up the 4tt to 10th positions with products from the sponsors.

Oldest Cyclist, Annan Adams managed to pick up the pieces, finishing with the young blooded boys in a time of 3:19:48 to a cool cash of Gh1000.

This year’s event was sponsored by Gladiators cycling club in collaboration with the Ghana Cycling Federation, Dalex, DHL, Oswal Investment Ltd, and supported by Voltic, Kaz, GBB, PayAll, Alisa Hotel, Cycle City, Kowri,787 and Gladiators.