Ivorian wins second stage of Tour Du Ghana

Takoradi, Oct. 13, GNA - Abdulai Troare, a 40-year-old cyclist from Cote d'Ivoire won the second stage of the sixth Tour Du Ghana Cycling Race held in Takoradi in the Western Region Tuesday.

The 100-kilometre race comes immediately after the first stage held on Monday in Cape Coast, which kick-started a 623-kilometre tour across some principal towns in the country ends next Monday in Accra. Main sponsor Pepsi has injected 100 million cedis for cyclists' biggest event and supported by Pens and Plastic (BIC), Bivac International, SDV Ghana, Wienco Fertilizer, Woodin, Novotel and Glico Insurance.

Participants are from Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire. Ghana's cycling hopeful Ayitey Akoto failed to replicate the performance he produced in Cote D'Ivoire during the recently held La Route de L'est but managed to place second ahead of Birba Wenceslas and Eugene Houinsinoue, both from Burkina Faso. Mr. Joseph Wireko, Marketing Manager of Pepsi said his company decided to support the event to promote fitness and good health in the country.

He appealed to Ghanaians to exercise regularly to enhance their lives.

Mrs. Victoria Osafo, Public Relations Manager of Ghana Telecom, said her outfit was desirous of promoting cycling and other lesser-known sports to an appreciable level, which would enable them to participate at the international stage.

Mr. Peter Yaw Affort, Chairman of the Ghana Cycling Association (GCA) expressed regret that only three clubs out of the 17 in the country could participate in the competition due to financial constraints.

He announced that the GCA was grooming two cyclists to participate in an international competition in South Africa in February next year. Mr. Affort said four girls and a boy aged between 15 and 18 years were also being trained by the Association to compete in a cycling event in Burkina Faso in October 30, this year. He appealed to motorists to respect cyclists and avoid acts that could endanger their lives and career.

Mr. Troare expressed his appreciation to the organisers and his co-competitors for the cordial and mature sportsmanship displayed during the competition.