Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – Burkinabè cyclist Paul Daumont is on the brink of securing the final victory in the 34th edition of the Tour du Faso, following the 9th stage contested on Saturday. The stage, stretching from Bobo-Dioulasso to Pa over 126.7 kilometers, was won by his compatriot Boureima Nana.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Daumont has maintained a strong lead since the beginning of the competition, winning half of the race’s stages, including those in Pô, Ziniaré, Zorgho, Koudougou, and Bobo-Dioulasso. He currently holds a 28-second lead over his Belgian competitor Wouters Rutger. With only the 10th stage remaining from Saponé to Ouagadougou, Daumont is poised for the overall win, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
In the Bobo-Dioulasso – Pa stage, Daumont demonstrated effective control, staying close to Rutger and Moroccan cyclist Achraf Ed-Doghmy. This stage saw intense competition among the leading riders, while others focused on bonus points. The intermediate sprints witnessed dynamic performances, with the Cameroonian Nounawé Rodrigue Kuere, the pink jersey holder, winning the first sprint in Sogossagasso. The second sprint at Koumbia was claimed by Mali’s Lamine Diamoutene, and the final sprint in Houndé by Cameroonian Sadikou Jérémie Kossoko.
Boureima Nana, second in the last intermediate sprint, successfully broke away with a group of four, including strong sprinters Sadikou Jérémie and Moroccan Oussama Khafi. Nana eventually triumphed in Pa with a time of 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 21 seconds, at an average speed of 45.975 km/h, followed by Khafi and Kossoko.
The stage was not without incidents, as Nana collided with a journalist post-finish, resulting in minor injuries for both. A Moroccan cyclist also fell after the last intermediate sprint, and journalist Assamy Tiemtoré suffered a fall into a ravine while capturing footage.
This victory marks Burkina Faso’s third win in Pa since the Tour du Faso began in 1987, with previous wins by Boukari Kaganbêga and Rasmané Ouédraogo. The 34th Tour du Faso, featuring 11 countries and 13 teams, covers a total distance of 1187.6 kilometers across 10 stages and traverses 7 of Burkina Faso’s 13 regions.