Ouagadougou: The 35th edition of the Tour International du Faso will see 15 teams from 13 countries, including a notable presence from CSK Moscow (Russia), competing in one of Africa’s most prestigious cycling events, the National Organizing Committee announced during a press conference in Ouagadougou.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the participating teams hail from nine African countries-Benin, Burkina Faso (hosting three teams), Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal-and three European countries: Belgium, Russia, and Holland. This diverse international lineup underscores the event’s growing global appeal and competitive spirit.
The race, scheduled to commence on October 25, will challenge participants with a route covering 10 stages across 10 regions of Burkina Faso, totaling 1196.800 km in race distance and 949 km in transhipment distance, culminating in an exhaustive 2145.800 km. The stages vary, from the longest, a 148.800 km ride from Kombissiri to Kaya, to the
shortest, an 85.5 km sprint from Bobo to Banfora.
Joseph Poda, the Permanent Secretary of the Tour, emphasized the significance of the event amidst the national context. “The organizing committee is working tirelessly to make this 35th edition the best. The national context, marked by the gradual reconquest of our territory, is one of the reasons for our commitment and determination to succeed in this Tour du Faso, for the honor and image of our country. We must prove, once again, the resilience of Burkina Faso in the face of current challenges,” he stated.
In a noteworthy subplot, the Burkina Faso Cycling Stallions are set to defend their yellow jersey without last year’s champion, Paul Daumont. Martin Sawadogo, the national technical director of the Burkinabe Cycling Federation, remains confident in the abilities of other team members. “Paul Daumont is absent but we also have riders capable of going for the yellow jersey. There is Moukaila Rawendé, Mouni Vincent and many other riders who can make the diff
erence,” he noted.
This year’s Tour du Faso not only showcases the competitive spirit of the cyclists but also marks a significant return for Russia, which has not participated since 1987 when Russian rider Igor Luchinko clinched the victory in the inaugural edition of the Tour.