National cycling team impresses at Cote D'Ivoire

Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - The national cycling team, chalked a significant success at this year's La Route de L'est staged in Cote D'Ivoire, placing an overall third best in the West African yearly competition.

In addition to the trophy, the team also brought home from the war-ravaged country, silver and two bronze medals at the end of the 10-stage championship won by host, Cote D'Ivoire. Ghana's ace cyclist Joseph Annang, after an initial sluggish start, delivered a power finish to win silver at the second stage of the competition.

The six-man team, which included Aryitey Akoto, Rudoff Mensah, Mohammed Amin and Emmanuel Taylor, supported their colleague William Afful to break away from the bunch to win two bronze medals at the fifth and eighth stages respectively.

The team, however, missed the services of "wonder kid" Richard Mawuko who was hit by a vehicle during the last Tour Du Ghana. He was outstanding at the last year's La Rout De L'est where a chief of one of the villages in Cote D'Ivoire, presented him with a special gift.

Cote D'Ivoire won the prestigious yellow jersey while Burkina Faso went home with the green jersey.

The cyclists and their technical handlers would call on the Minister of Education and Sports, Yaw Osafo Marfo early next week.