Ouagadougou: Burkinabe sprinter Awa Bamogo won the first stage of the Yennenga International Women's Tour between Ouagadougou and Kombissiri (52.94km) on Tuesday, ahead of her compatriot Lamoussa Bamogo and Nigerian Grace Godwin.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Stallion, Dame Bamogo, covered the 52.94 km in 1 hour, 31 minutes, and 34 seconds, for an average speed of 34.689 km/h. This Burkinabe victory was meticulously planned from the starting gun in the Burkinabe capital to Kombissiri. Already inside the city of Ouagadougou, the Burkinabe duo (Awa Bamogo and Lamoussa Zoungrana) attempted a breakaway, followed closely by the Nigerian Grace Godwin. They opened up a gap of 1 minute 12 seconds on the peloton, which then increased to 2 minutes 16 seconds.
Behind them, the Guimbi Ouattara team, Burkina Faso's second-largest, controlled the peloton, which remained silent and offered no reaction to stop the breakaway. The gap between the escapees and the peloton extended to 3 minutes and 14 seconds as they headed towards the only intermediate sprint of the stage in Koubri, at kilometer 35.260 from the start. Lamoussa Zoungrana took this intermediate sprint, followed by Nigeria's Grace Godwin and Awa Bamogo. The race gained momentum, and the riders were cheered on by large crowds lining the route. The two Burkinabe Stallions launched a fierce attack, dropping Godwin.
With 3km remaining to the finish line in Kombissiri, the gap between the breakaway and the Nigerian was one minute. Awa Bamogo claimed the stage in a friendly sprint, donning the first red leader's jersey (maillot luilli pende) of the competition. A winning tactic for the women's Stallions.
Stage winner Awa Bamogo thanked the Ministry of Sports and the federation for their trust in the two Burkinabe teams. She also expressed gratitude to her teammates, noting, "They really worked as a team for this victory. We worked as a team to honor our country." National Technical Director Martin Sawadogo stated, "The coaching paid off for both Lamoussa and Awa. It was the tactics that paid off. The instructions were followed." The gap between Awa Bamogo and Lamoussa Zoungrana was only a few seconds, and regarding the management of the red leader's jersey, the DTN clarified that whoever has the opportunity will be supported by everyone. "We'll go with whoever can wear the jersey."
The Burkinabe coach reassured everyone that the women's cycling team, the Stallions, have "a significant advantage, and I think we can manage the jersey, improve our time, and even improve it until the end."
This first edition of the Tour Feminin Yennenga was launched to "promote high-level cycling and empower women," according to the competition's permanent secretary, Soumaila Traore. The Minister of Sports, Youth and Employment, Annick Pikbougoum, stated that "this event is also part of the revolutionary dynamic undertaken by our country, particularly in women's sports. Through this tour, the government affirms its commitment to providing young people with opportunities for expression, personal development, and excellence. It is a living expression of our people's resilience and their ability to move forward."
The first edition of the Tour Feminin Yennenga brought together six teams (23 riders) from five countries-Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Mali, and Nigeria-in Burkina Faso. The second stage, a distance of 66.87 km, will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, between Guiba and Garango.