Tenkodogo – A new prize sponsored by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) was introduced during the 34th International Tour of Faso to encourage cyclists from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as observed during the competition.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Director General of the national fund for the promotion of sport and leisure, the AES prize was launched at the 2nd Nioryida-Ziniaré stage. The prize aims to encourage riders from Mali and Niger, who, according to Souabo, “are not lucky enough to have a stage.” He added that the prize will be featured in the other nine stages of the competition as well. The fund, which also sponsors the green jersey for the 34th edition of the Tour du Faso, will award an envelope of 100,000 FCFA to the leading rider from each of the three member countries at each stage. Souabo pointed out that the three countries, which have been battling terrorism since 2013, signed a defense agreement establishing the Alliance of Sahel States last September.