Ouagadougou: Moroccan rider El Alouani Driss emerged victorious in the initial stage of the Tour International du Faso, a segment not included in the official competition, spanning 120.280 km from Ouagadougou to Koudougou. He outpaced Burkinabe competitor Souleymane Kone, as noted by AIB in the city of the Red Rider.

According to Burkina Information Agency, El Alouani completed the distance in 2 hours 50 minutes 53 seconds, achieving an average speed of 42.232 km/h. Despite the efforts of Burkinabe cyclists, who secured victories in intermediate sprints at Kokologo and Sabou, the Moroccan team capitalized on their collective strength during a breakaway involving 11 riders.

El Alouani expressed satisfaction at the finish line, attributing his success to strategic planning and teamwork. In contrast, Souleymane Kone acknowledged the lack of experience as a factor in their defeat, despite a strong presence in the breakaway.

Though this stage will not contribute to the overall standings, the yellow and green jerseys were ceremoniously awarded to El Alouani. This opening segment was backed by the National Fund for the Promotion of Sport. The event saw participation from 63 riders representing 9 countries, with Burkina Faso fielding three teams. Cameroon is anticipated to join the competition in Koudougou for subsequent stages. The Tour du Faso 2025, running from October 24 to November 2, will traverse nine regions within Burkina Faso.