Malgré une chute durant la course et une arrivée à la 6e place, le Camerounais reste de manière provisoire au sommet de la compétition.

C’est armé de courage que le capitaine de Snh Vélo club, Clovis Kamzong Abossolo va franchir la ligne d’arrivée ce 04 juin 2024. Ceci après avoir bravé les 83 km de l’itinéraire Bangangté – Foumbot – Bafoussam, 4e étape de cette 20e édition du Tour cycliste international du Cameroun. Entouré des coureurs ivoiriens, marocains et algériens, il réussira tant bien que mal à se frayer un chemin, après avoir éviter le pire. « Dès le premier sprint, j’ai été bousculé par les coureurs algériens. Je suis tombé en abîmant une des roues de mon vélo. J’ai également été blessé au cours de cette chute », indique dépité, le Camerounais. 

Malgré ce qu’il qualifie de mauvais jeu, le Lion indomptable de la petite reine va remonter sur une nouvelle bicyclette pour essayer de réduire l’écart qui le sépare du peleton de tête. Malgré ses efforts, il arrive en 6e position, derrière 3 Algériens, un Ivoirien et un Néerlandais. Avec 1h58’45 au compteur pour cette 4e étape, il garde le maillot jaune mais réduit l’écart à 22 secondes entre lui et son suivant l’algérien Ayoub Sahiri.

L’Algerie en pleine forme

En 1h58’04, l’algérien Ayoub Sahiri va avoir raison de ce parcours connu pour sa difficulté à cause des nombreuses montées et descentes à effectuer, de routes sinueuses et assez dégradées sur le trajet Foumbot-péage Bafoussam, sans oublier les nombreux ralentisseurs que l’on peut rencontrer ça et là. 

En franchissant le premier la lignée d’arrivée, il garde son maillot à pois rouge en étant le meilleur grimpeur de cette 4e étape, en plus de remporter le maillot blanc en tant que meilleur jeune du parcours. Son compatriote et coéquipier Minouni Oussama Abdallah est arrivé en 3e position sur un temps de 1h58’43 tout comme l’Ivoirien Cissé Isiaka classé 2e.

Pour la 5e étape, les cyclistes des différentes délégations devront dompter les 120 km qui séparent la région de l’Ouest à celle du Littoral suivant le parcours Bafoussam-Dschang- Nkongsamba. Ce sera ce 05 juin 2024 dès 10h.

Jeanne Ngo Nlend

Le peleton parti ce 04 juin 2024 à 11h de Bangangté va traverser les régions de l’Ouest et du Littoral avant d’atteindre son terminus dans le Centre, le 9 juin 2024

Après une semaine dans le septentrion pour la phase 1, les participants à la 20e édition du Tour cycliste international du Cameroun, se sont retrouvés dans la région de l’Ouest pour la suite. Notons que la Région de l’Ouest qui accueille tout la quatrième étape du tournoi sur le tronçon Bangangté-Foumbot-Bafoussam longue de 83km, sera aussi l’hôte de la cinquième étape qui partira de Bafoussam pour Nkongsamba en passant par Dschang.

L’itinéraire de la 2

Cette année, le Tour passe par 14 villes avec une arrivée prévue au boulevard du 20-Mai à Yaoundé le 9 juin. Pour cette phase 2 justement, c’est un peu près de 700 km dans 10 villes que devront parcourir les cyclistes. De la 4e à la 9e étape, les distances seront les suivantes: 

– 04 juin 2024: 83 km sur le trajet Bangangté – Foumbot- Bafoussam;

– ⁠05 juin 2024 : 120 km pour l’itinéraire Bafoussam – Dschang – Nkongsamba;

– ⁠06 juin 2024 : Douala – Limbé – Douala  avec ses 120 km;

– ⁠07 juin 2024: Douala – Pouma sur une distance de 101 km;

– ⁠08 juin 2024: Yaoundé -Ngomedzap avec 95km à parcourir; 

– ⁠09 juin 2024 : Ngoulemankong – Yaoundé pour les 108 km de fin. 

Pour l’instant, c’est le Camerounais Clovis Kamzong de l’équipe de la Snh qui est le maillot jaune. 

Jeanne Ngo Nlend

Cannister Goldwynn, Deutch cyclist from the Global Cycling team took the lead during the third lap of the International cycling tour on 2nd June 2024.

He was among a trio heading to the finish line at the same speed. In the last seconds of the race, Goldwynn overpowered his two competitors, and crossed the finish line first.

The Deutch won the third lap after completing the Garoua close circuit race in 2hours 30minutes 10seconds.

Morrocan Cyclist, El Otmany Mehdi finished the lap on the second spot and French cyclist Clain Médéric occupied the third spot. They both finished the race in 2 hours 30minutes 10 seconds.

Despite the Deutch’s victory, Clovis Kamzong Abossolo remains holder of the yellow jersey. He finished the race at the 10th position on the general classification chart as best Cameroonian cyclist of the lap.

The lap was tougher for five cyclists who encountered mechanical failures during the race. Boudar Zaki from Algeria, Loukou Kouakou Alexis from Côte d’Ivoire Tellier Jean Philippe from France, Ande Kouadio Emmanuel Adebayor from Côte d’Ivoire and Elgharysy Youssef from Morocco all experienced mechanical problems along the way. All the five cyclists benefited from the same time of the peloton at the time of the incident, regardless.

Sunday’s lap in Garoua marked the end of the first phase of the competition. The president of the Cameroon Cycling federation Honoré Yossi, expressed satisfaction with the first phase of the tour which took place in the North and Far North regions.

“ This was a good lap because Cameroonian cyclists are going back with the yellow Jersey. Cameroonian cyclists put up a strong boundary which made it difficult for anyone else to take the lead. It has been a good race,” Honoré Yossi, President of the Cameroon Cycling federation said.

The cyclists, sports directors and other race officials have flown to YAOUNDE to prepare for the fourth lap which will take place on 4th June from Bangangte-Foumbot -Bafoussam on a distance of 83km.

Kathy Neba Sina

The college of race commissioners for the competition declared Mimouni Oussama Abdallah winner after a consultation meeting held at the end of the race.

The second lap of the race from Figuil-Garoua on 1st June was perturbed by torrential rains which left the pathways flooded and nearly impossible for cyclists to continue biking. Shortly after the kick off, cyclists were taken aback by a heavy downpour in Figuil which did not cease even after  they got to the finish line at the Garoua ceremonial ground.

Completely drenched by the heavy downpour that lasted for over three hours, the cyclists managed to ride through flooded pathways, and slowed down by a heavy fog that covered the roads.

The Figuil-Garoua stretch covered a distance of 102.7km, but the unfavorable weather conditions forced the timekeeper to stop timing 92km into the race.

At 10km to the finish line, Max MICHAUD, president of the race commissioners ordered the discontinuation of the race. The decision notwithstanding, conferred the yellow jersey to Clovis Kamzong Abossolo, winner of the first lap of the race.

The race commissioners then held a meeting whose outcome was the announcement of the winner of the lap, in the person of Algeria’s Mimouni Oussama Abdallah. He  came first within the first two hours 16 minutes, 30 seconds of the race, and was consequently declared  winner of the lap. Oussama had an hourly average speed of 40.44 km per hour, closely followed by his compatriots Megnouche Hamza in the 2nd position, Ben Youcef Abdallah in the 3rd position and Sahiri Ayoub in the 4th position.

Meanwhile, Cameroonian cyclist, Kamzong Clovis Abossolo, winner of the first lap who retained the yellow jersey had a cumulative time of 5 hours 18 Minutes 53 seconds. He was followed on the classification chart by three Algerians ; Mimouni Oussama Abdellah in the 2nd position, Ben Youcef Abdullah in the 3rd position and Sahiri Ayoub in the fourth 4th position. The three Algerians each have a cumulative time of three hours , one minute, 3 seconds , at least two hours behind the holder of the yellow jersey.

Mimouni Oussama, winner of the second lap of the tour is followed by Clovis Kamzong Abossolo and Kuéré Nounawé Rodrigue, with a coverage time of two hours 10 seconds each in this lap.

The third lap, a closed circuit race that covers a distance of 99, 2 km will take place on Sunday 2nd June 2024 in Garoua.

Kathy Neba Sina

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

Thirty-three cyclists from 8 national cycling teams have begun competing for the yellow jersey at the 20th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon which kicked off on 31st May in Maroua.

The cycling teams are from France, Holland, Cote D’ivore, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Algeria and Cameroon.

All 9 participating teams were presented in a ceremony at the Maroua ceremonial ground on 30th May, presided over by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi.

He called on the cyclists to uphold good sportsmanship as they engage in the race “which has become a festive event that promotes the image of Cameroon and its touristic attractions”.

The fight for the yellow jersey begins during the first lap of the race; the Maroua-Mora-Maroua stretch which covers a distance of 131km.

33 Cyclists, 9 teams, 8 countries

A total of of 33 cyclists constituting 9 teams from 8 countries; 2 from Europe and 6 from Africa are taking part in the 20th edition of the International Cycling Tour of Cameroon.

The French National Cycling team,
UFUSPORT is represented at the competition by five cyclists ; Clain Mederiv David, Lerosey Usage Lerosey-Laurent, Mehdi Pierre Jackie Fabrice, Kwiatkowaski Grexegorz Jan, and Tellier Jean Philippe.

Holland’s Global Cycling Team is competing with 6 cyclists; Tigelaar Jan Waltherus, Van Beurden Niels, Hartog Thomas, Parmentier Tycho Jannes, Betten Johan, and Cannister Goldwynn Yustyn Divino.

Six cyclists from Algeria’s national cycling team are also taking part in the competition. They are; Benyoucef Abdallah, Mimouni Oussama Abdellah, Boudar Zaki, Badlis Slimane, Sahiri Ayoub and Megnouche Hamza.

The National Cycling team of Cote D’Ivoire has five cyclists; Cisse Isiaka, Ande Kouadio Emmanuel, Loukou Kouakou Alexis, Ouattara Syndou, and Ouattara Ali.

Senegal’s national cycling team is seeking the yellow jersey with the help of six cyclists ; Sow Nar, Fam Serigne Abdou Rahim, Seye Amsatou, Fall Abdoulaye, Thiaw Cheikh, and Faye Lamine.

Five cyclists from Morocco’s national cycling team made it to Cameroon for the race. They include; Ait Elattar Mohammed, Daoudi Marwane, Elgharysy Youssef, Mahroug Kamal, Echahed Ahmed, and El Otmany Mehdi.

Burkina Faso’s national cycling team counts six Burkinabé cycling warriors ; Daumont Paul, Yameogo Saturnin, Soulama Daouda, Bouda Wahabou, Mouni Vincent and Ilboudo Mohamadi.

Cameroon is competing for the yellow jersey with two teams; the National cycling team and the SNH Velo Club, made up of 12 cyclists. The SNH velo club is comprised of Kamzong Clovis Abossolo, Tella Artuce Jodele, Kuere Nounawe Rodrigue Eric, Kossoko Sadikou Jeremie, Atchetkuenyinyi Aurelien and Fotsing Claude Harold. Meanwhile the Cameroon national cycling team is made up of Tientcheu Michel Boris, Njonkoue Ivan, Mekem Tsakou Jordan, Nguegium Steve Auriol, Chofor Fabrice and Fouafack Bertol.

As the first lap of the race begins, Cameroonian cyclists and captain of SNH Velo Club and the Cameroon Cycling team, Clovis Kamzong Abessolo, hopes his team will bypass the odds to grab the yellow jersey at the end of this lap.

“My team and I are hopeful that the anthem of Cameroon will be sung in Maroua at the end of the first lap. We have been in Maroua for sometime now to acquaint ourselves with the climate, and we think everything will go on as planned.”

The cyclists have been racing through the town of Maroua for about four hours now, and the winner of the first lap of the 20th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon will soon be known.

Kathy Neba Sina

The 20th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon will take place from 30th May -9th June 2024, beginning in the Far North Region of the country.

The race is coming back to the Far North region of the country after 12 years of suspension owing to security reasons.

This comeback also doubles as an innovation as the competition will begin in the Far North region before moving to other regions. Cyclists will run through six regions of the country, covering a total distance of 1002.3km. At the end of the 9th lap, the winner will be handed the yellow jersey in Yaounde.

Participating teams

A total of nine teams from Cameroon,  France, Holland, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Côté d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso will take part in 20th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon.

Cameroon will be represented by 12 cyclists from two teams. Six of the cyclists ; Kamzong Abossolo Clovis, Tella Artuce, Kuéré Nounawé Rodrigue, Kossoko Sadikou Jérémie, Atchetkuenyinyi Aurélien and Fotsing Claude Harold are from SNH Vélo Club. They will be supervised by Martinien Tega.

Six other cyclists ; Tientcheu Michel Boris, Njonkoué Ivan, Mekem Tsakou Jordan, Ngueguim Stève Auriol, Chofor Fabrice, and Fouafack Bertol who make up the Cameroon National Cycling Team will take part in the race under the supervision of Feutsa Lucas.

Cameroonian cyclists and their supervisors have been in Maroua  for close to a week, awaiting the commencement of the race.

Itinerary of  the Tour

The itinerary of the International Cycling Tour of Cameroon was disclosed on 11th May during an Executive Board Meeting of the Cameroon Cycling Federation (FECACYCLISME) in Yaounde.

All nine participating teams, will take part in the nine-lap race. The Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi will preside over the ceremony to present the participating teams at the Maroua  ceremonial ground on 30th May 2024.

The first lap of the race will be run between Maroua-Mora-Maroua with cyclists covering a distance of 131km on 31st May 2024. On 1st June, cyclists will take part in the second lap  from Figuil – Garoua on a distance of 102.7km. The third lap will be a close circuit race within Garoua on 2nd June. To complete this lap, cyclists will cover a distance of 97.2 kilometres. 

On 3rd June, the cyclists will travel from the Far North to the West region ahead of the fourth lap to be run from Bangangte-Foumbot-Bafoussam covering a distance of  83km on 4th June . The Fifth lap will be from Bafoussam-Dschang-Nkongsamba on a distance of 120km on 5th June. The six lap,  Douala-Limbe-Douala will cover a distance of 120km on 6th June.

The Seventh lap, Douala-Pouma, covers a distance of 101km to be run on 7th June. Cuclists will then take part in the penultimate lap from Yaounde-Ngomedzap covering a distance of 95km on 8th June. The final lap will be run from Ngoulmakong to Yaounde on a distance of 108km on 9th June.

French born, Max MICHAUD is the president of race commissioners for the 20th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon, appointed by the International Cycling Union (UIC).

Preparations for the grande sports event are intensifying in Maroua ahead of the ceremony to present the participating teams on 30th May.

Kathy Neba Sina