Spectators at the 20th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon at the Maroua ceremonial ground went into a frenzy as Clovis Kamzong Abossolo, crossed the finish line.
Abossolo, captain of SNH Velo Club had bypassed over 30 other cyclists to complete the race, three minutes ten seconds ahead of them all.
He grabbed the yellow jersey after racing through the Maroua-Mora-Maroua stretch in three hours 13 seconds on 31st May 2024 at the Maroua ceremonial ground.
His victory was however no surprise. Clovis and team mates were intentional about to having a Cameroonian cyclist get the yellow jersey at the end of the first lap.
“We have been in Maroua for almost a week, acquainting ourselves with the climate which is usually harsh at this time of the year. My team mates and I have been working hard to make sure the anthem of Cameroon resounds in Maroua at the end of the first lap,” Ahossolo told CRTV Web few hours before the start of the race.
The captain of SHN velo club and his team mates stood their grounds in the first lap of the race and made sure their plans came to fruition. Three minutes 26 seconds after Clovis’ arrival, Kuere Nounawe Rodrigue Eric, also from SNH velo club cycled past the finish line to occupy the second position.
Then came Algeria’s Mimouni Oussama Abdellah, the youngest cyclist in the competition. He was the third cyclist to cross the finish line. He made it through the Maroua-Mora-Maroua stretch in 3hours, 3 mins 26seconds.
While handing over the winning prize for the lap to Abossolo, the Governor of the Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakari said he was elated that a Cameroonian had won the first lap of the race. He expressed the wish to see the yellow jersey remain within the ranks of Cameroonian cyclists.
“We are very happy to see a Cameroonian win the first lap of this race. We do hope that at the end of the race, the jersey will remain with a Cameroonian,” the Governor said.
The Race Itinerary
The kickoff of the race from the Maroua ceremonial ground saw the cyclists bike through the Brasseries junction to the Laking junction, the UBA junction, the Lamido’s residence, the Governor’s office, the red bridge, the Mayo bridge, the Djama roundabout, the central police office, total junction, CAMWATER Junction, St John édjarengol junction and back to the Maroua ceremonial ground.
After successfully covering the 127km stretch, the Sports Director of SNH Velo Club, Martinien TEGA said the cyclists were ready to put in a better performance in the second lap scheduled for 1st June from Figuil to Garoua on a distance of 102.7km.
Kathy Neba Sina
