The recently concluded 29th edition of the Tour Cycliste of Togo in Lomé spanned an impressive distance of over 700 kilometers.
Bashiru Mohammed, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Cycling Federation (CFN), announced that Nigeria’s cycling team secured third place at the recently concluded Tour International du Togo.
In a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, Mr. Mohammed revealed that the team returned with three trophies.
“Nigeria’s team won first place in individual points for both the Under 23 Elite and Under 23 categories, and third place in the team classification points.
“In the overall team classification, we finished third. I commend the team’s performance and the Federation will continue to support them.
“I was confident that Nigeria would excel in the competition, and we did,” he said.
Mr. Mohammed mentioned that Abdulmalik Yusuf wore the yellow jersey during the fourth stage of the Tour International du Togo.
“Other honorary jerseys were awarded throughout the competition, including the jersey for the longest competitive breakaway and the Ducreux jersey, which honors the late Francis Ducreux, one of the promoters of the Tour International du Togo,” he added.
He noted that the 29th edition of the Tour Cycliste of Togo in Lomé spanned over 700 kilometers over a week of racing.
“The cyclists traversed several principal towns and cities, including the route from Kpalimé, Mango, Kara, Pagouda, Sokodé, Sotouboua, and Atakpamé, with a closed circuit in Vogan-Aného-Lomé.
“Nigeria was represented by a nine-member contingent, consisting of six cyclists and three officials.
“The cyclists were John Odumu, Abdulmalik Yusuf, Isah Momoh, Mansud Garuba, Precious Etim, and Emmanuel Udohudoh.
“The officials included coaches Moses Omozusi and Kamole Amoo, and mechanic Timothy Anagolu. The team returned home on Tuesday,” he said.
The Mali squad finished in second place, behind the Burkina Faso team, with Nigeria in third.
The teams placing fourth through ninth were Cote d’Ivoire, Togo Team A, France, Ghana, Benin, and CEDEAO.
For the first time, the Togo Cycling Tour was organized by a local partner, “UK and PARTNERS,” a communication and marketing consultancy, in collaboration with the Togolese Cycling Federation (FTC).
The 2024 International Cycling Tour of Togo comprised six stages with teams from nine countries: Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, France, Togo A, CEDEAO, and Mali.