2013 Cowbell Bike Tour (Stage 8): Defending Champion, Samuel Anim bridge time gap

Samuel Anim, the most rewarded rider in the tour so far, won his fourth stage victory of the tour, after the Kumasi criterium ended at the Baba Yara stadium, Kumasi.

The cyclist covered a 6km distance per lap. The eventual winner had the task of covering 20 laps with the best time.

Anim pulled the Yellow Jersey bunch throughout until the 16th lap, where he left Isaac on his own and decided to take on his teammate Jacob Acquaye and Gramilla K. Antwi (Gutten Cycling Club).

Jacob and Antwi led the peloton by almost 2 minutes until the 16th lap, when they succumbed to Anim's quicker pace and subsequently fell behind.

However, at the end of the 17th lap, Henry Tetteh Djanmah, defending champion, whispered instructions to his teammates noticeable Abdul Razak umar and Nuru Paddy Alhassan.

Later, these three Riders pursued Anim, followed by Francis Tetteh and Aminu Mohammed. Anim and these riders formed a new leading peloton. Anim's peloton led the Yellow jersey peloton by 3 minutes 10 seconds.

The main threat in the Yellow Jersey peloton consisted of Isaac Sackey himself, Prosper Agbo, Frank Awuku Akuffo and Moro Egala. These youngsters lacked the pace and strength to move along with their seniors (Anim's peloton).

The 3 minutes gap between Anim's bunch and the Yellow Jersey peloton could not be bridged. This allowed Henry and Anim to reduce their 9 minutes defects to 6 minutes, between them and the youngsters who are separated by 2 seconds among themselves. At the end of the race, Samuel Anim was too strong to be swallowed by Mohammed Aminu (National Cycling Team Captain); he placed second, whilst Henry Tetteh Djanmah came in third.

Isaac Sackey survived a late attack from Prosper Agbo and Moro Egala to hold on to the Yellow Jersey ahead of the Queen's Stage (most difficult stage).

50 meters to the end of the race, Moro and Prosper attempted an attack to get out of the Yellow Jersey peloton, but Isaac was up to the challenge, he quickly increased his pace when the attack started.

This enabled him arrive together at the finish line the same time with his nearest rivals (Moro Egala, Prosper Agbo ,Frank Awuku Akuffo and Dickson Poku).

“It was very close, but the road decided for me today”, said Isaac with a smile.

Isaac keeps the Yellow Jersey whilst Prosper, Moro, Dickson and Frank live to fight another day.