…As Dickson Poku wins Stage 10 of National Cycling Tour
With only a day left for the ongoing 2013 Cowbell National Cycling Tour to hit the climax, the tenth stage of the competition from Ada to Dodze and Akatsi to Ada drew the largest crowd ever.
People of all shapes and sizes, the elderly and kids struggled for space to see who will win and at the end of it all, new winners emerged.
Isaac Odonkor of All Stars, Moro Yakubu of Die Hard and Isaac Sackey of Young Stars were the podium climbers for the race that ended at Dodze, over a distance of 75 kilometers. Star of the Tour, Victory Club of Cape Coast and Takoradi made sure their name was in the record books when Dickson Opoku surprised everyone including the national captain to win the 51 kilometers distance race from Akatsi to Ada. River Park – Kumasi’s Mohammed Aminu Osumanu, the national captain placed second as Wisdom Akakpo of River Park-Sunyani took the third position.
For the Jerseys classification, it remained the same as in the Koforidua stage as Prosper Agbo maintained the Yellow Jersey and Samuel Anim retained his Green and Red Jerseys.
Samuel Anim of Young Stars fell midway on the Tour, when he clashed with Prosper Agbo. The two spotting numbers 13 and 31 respectively were the riders most fans and officials were watching to cause any sensation. Anim lost some speed and strength, so he could not make it among the top ten to Dodze, but he recovered and was registered in the top ten to Ada out of the 59 cyclists.
The final lap in Accra hopes to be very keen with all the cyclists wishing to go for the Yellow Jersey and first place.
Israel Nornyibey, Brands Manager of Cowbell said he was highly impressed with the performances and was very happy that there had been no casualties, but rather the brand Cowbell has become a national word with kids and oldies mentioning and shouting any time or anywhere they see the convoy.
Kwabena Asamoah, the Communications Manager also expessed his joy over the event and hinted that next year’s Tour which will be international would be better organized.
“We are still learning and growing, we have made the name, Cowbell is proud to be associated with Cycling and we never regret sponsoring the sport” he said.
Peter Yaw Affort, a veteran of the sport who is Assistant Commissioner for the Tour urged the government to channel half of the financial backing for Football to Cycling and the sport will market the nation to higher levels. The 1977 National Champion said the future is bright for Ghana Cycling.
