Agbo declared Champion of 2013 Cowbell Cycling Tour of Ghana

Prosper Agbo representing City Migro club was declared winner of the 2013 Cowbell Cycling Tour of Ghana !

Stage 10: Thrills heighten, crowds pour out

The 10th stage of the 2013 Cowbell Cycling Tour took place in the coastal plains of Ada into the southern Volta area. The Ada area is a popular tourist enclave with the Volta estuary providing many different forms of nature to be enjoyed by visitors. The Ada stage was two races in one with the first race ending in Dzodze and the second ending back in Ada.

The majestic flowing Volta provided the perfect backdrop for the cyclists as they thundered across the 650-metre Sogakope bridge on the lower Volta river and entered the Sogakope town where a sizeable crowd was waiting to greet the race after having heard about them for several days.

The deep appreciation of cycling in the southern Volta area became apparent as the cyclists entered the bustling town of Akatsi almost bringing all activity along the main road in the town to a stand still. Drivers and motorcyclists tooted their horns in greeting as people raced to the roadside to catch a glimpse of the riders.

The lead peleton sprinted to a finish in Dzodze with energy that belied the 70 km they had just ridden.

The second race of the day was a 51 km ride from Akatsi back to Ada and the riders, knowing they were riding against the wind this time, adopted varying strategies to keep up with the bunch.

Busy traffic meant there was more work to be done to keep the riders and the 35-vehicle convoy safe but the Police MTTU officers on the Tour were more than up to the task.

The lead peleton zoomed in to one of the loudest cheers on the entire tour from the huge crowd gathered at Kasseh (Ada Junction). Men, women and children alike went into a loud frenzy as Isaac Sackey and Aminu Mohammed sprinted across the finish line a fraction of a second ahead of the rest of the bunch.

Stage 9: Koforidua – Adukrom – Koforidua

The Cowbell National Cycling Tour finally entered the Eastern Region and the picturesque town of Koforidua overlooked by towering mountains

The remaining batch of 61 cyclists were raring to go as this stage dubbed the ‘mountain stage’ often decided who the overall Yellow Jersey winner would be.

The steep, winding incline was attacked with amazing athleticism by the riders as they headed to what is the highest elevation (448m) in the entire route of the tour

Breakaway! Samuel Anim managed to get away from the rest of the lead bunch to take a commanding 4 minute lead. Would the rest of the lead bunch be able to catch him?

Samuel Anim finally crossed the finish line first in the pouring rain maintaining his 4-minute lead. He maintained his Green and Red Jerseys however the Yellow Jersyey (lead Jersey) changed hands to Prosper Agbo of City Migro cycling club. The stage is set for a nail biting finish to the tour. Ada, here we come…

8th Stage: Kumasi – Criterion

The Cowbell National Cycling Tour is back in Kumasi – the Okomfo Anokye city with the last of the two criterion stages.

This stage is called the BIC stage because it is being sponsored by Pens and Plastics Limited makers of BIC pens and shavers.

In this fast-paced stage, the 61 cyclists will be racing 120Km over 20 laps through some major streets of Kumasi.

As is the case around this time of the year, the sun isn’t merciful to man and steel. Ambulances are always on hand to take care of emergencies.

After a stage record of  2h 18m 9s, Samuel Anim of the Young Stars Club crossed the finish line first and was closely followed by Mohammed Aminu Osman and Henry Tetteh Djangmah taking the second and third positions respectively.

The Yellow Jersey still remains with Isaac Sackey and Samuel Anim not surprisingly holds on to the Green and Red Jerseys.

One very interesting fact is that at this point Moro Yakubu Egala of the Die Hard Cycling Club is trailing Isaac Sackey, the holder of the Yellow Jersey by only 2 seconds.

7th Stage: Techiman to Kumasi

This stage easily offers some of nature’s best artworks in Ghana and anywhere in the world; awesome landscaping, beautiful forests, and breathtaking mountains.

Here cyclists covered the 117Km distance between Techiman to Kumasi which was characterised by undulating roads and fairly steep climbs.

It must be said that this stretch is by and large precarious due to vehicular traffic.

Once more, the welcoming cheers of school children was brought to bear when cyclists zipped by.

Wherever Cowbell goes, there is bound to be a smile on someone’s face no matter how young…or old one might be.

It came down to resilience as cyclists reached the finish line in a matter of 3h 4m 15s. In all, 61 cyclists began the race at 9:48am at an average speed of 38.1Km/h to finish at 12:52pm.

The first three to cross the finish line were: Joseph Kudakpo, Emmanuel Sackey and Festus Nyamekye.

As has been the case for many a stage now, Isaac Sackey is still yet to part with the yellow jersey and Samuel Anim still holds on to the Green and Red jerseys.

6th Stage: Buipe to Kintampo

Buipe is a town in central Ghana located on the upper reaches of Lake Volta. Buipe is significant for being on the banks of the Black Volta.

The distance from Buipe to Kintampo is 97Km. The roads are relatively flat with elevations reaching 345m above sea level. Cyclists endure the particularly scorching sun as they soldier on for club and victory.

Cyclists will often overcome obstacles like on-coming vehicles, road bumps, pot holes and in most cases…themselves!

The small towns and villages also had their fair share of ‘interesting’ to present to the cyclists. This town here literally means ‘the bearded town’.

At Cowbell, we always stay true to our word…THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!!! 

The race commenced at 10:51 am and Francis Tetteh from the City Migro Club made it to the finish line in 2h 31m 51s to end at 12:05pm. The second and third positions were taken by Henry Tetteh Djangmah and Abdul Razak all of the Die Hard Cycling club. All of them made the race with an average speed of 38.33 Km/h.

The Red, Green and Yellow jersey’s still remain in the custody of Samuel Anim (Green & Red) and Isaac Sackey (Yellow). As to whether the jersey’s will change hands, we will leave it to you.

We want to take this opportunity to thank the rulers and opinion leaders of Kintampo who took time off their busy schedules to come and witness the Cowbell National Cycling tour.

5th Stage: Criterion Race – Tamale

The Cowbell National Cycling Tour has reached Tamale, the city of motorbikes and of course the ‘Pearl of Tamale’ – the Tamale Sports Stadium.

The first of two criterion (lap) races takes place today. Here cyclists are going 20 laps around a 1KM stretch in the principal streets of Tamale.

These criterion races are normally characterised by high speeds, tact and like any race the ‘can do’ spirit.

Once again the people who have left behind to witness the talk of the Nation are never left out as free Cowbell drinks are served to the people who are only too happy to enjoy the truly refreshing drinks under the rather hot sun.

At the end of 20km, It was Victor Cudjoe who crossed the finished line first with a record time of 3h 23m 8s. He was closely followed by Samuel Anim and Henry Tetteh Djangmah who came in second and third respectively.

Isaac Sackey, who has retained the Yellow Jersey twice now, won it again with Samuel Anim retaining the Green and Red Jersey’s since the commencement of the Cowbell National Cycling Tour 2013.

4th Stage: Kumasi to Sunyani

Stage 4 is finally ready to make its mark in the history books as we prepare for what is arguably the fastest stage in the ongoing Cowbell National Cycling Tour of Ghana – Kumasi to Sunyani.

The exhibition ride begins at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium where cyclists ride through some principal streets of Kumasi to the starting line.

The ‘men of steel’ push on and on with gusto, each with the ultimate GH¢ 7,000 prize on their minds

Unsurprisingly the people of Bechem couldn’t simply afford to stay in their various homes and stalls as the Cowbell Publicity Van passed through the lovely town to announce the arrival of the cyclists

The race started at 10:02 am and in just a matter of 2h 49m 29s the cyclists had covered the 109Km journey from Kumasi to Sunyani to finish at 1:51 pm.

Though he fell at Bechem and lost a few minutes in the race, Samuel Anim fought very hard, went past everyone to finish first for this stage. Isaac Sackey however retained the Yellow Jersey with Samuel Anim retaining the Green and Red Jerseys for the fourth consecutive time.

Here we have the dignitaries together with the award winners and the M. D. of Promasidor Ghana Limited, Olivier Thiry, posing for the cameras.

3rd Stage: Assin Fosu to Kumasi

Three stages down, eight more to go. The Cowbell National Cycling Tour progresses with its longest stage – Assin Fosu to Kumasi. Here once more 67 cyclists begin their affair of honour at 11:06am with a somewhat overcast weather.

Again the general public, especially school children, would do just about anything to catch a glimpse of the ever so popular Cowbell National Cycling Tour

One remarkable feature of this stage is the towns with their rather curious names.

Cyclists were virtually brought to their wits end as the huffed and puffed past the often winding roads and not so gentle climbs.

With a relatively uneventful ride, our valiant cyclists made the 103Km stage in only 3h 46m 56s at an average speed of 37.5Km/h to finish at 2:52pm.

This time around, it was Isaac Sackey of the Young Stars cycling club who won the best by time award and therefore won the much coveted Yellow Jersey and the very interesting cheque and hamper prizes from Cowbell that come with it.