Autres Sports of Friday, 14 March 2014

Source: Cameroon Tribune

Cycling Tour of Cameroon - Cameroonian Cyclists On Crescendo

Mba Herve Raoul on March 13, 2014, retained the yellow jersey while Kamzong Abossolo won the fourth lap between Douala and Buea.

The performance of Cameroonian cyclists at the ongoing international cycling tour of Cameroon is on the crescendo as the competition progresses. Not only did they succeed in conserving the yellow jersey but also won the second lap victory yesterday during the fourth lap of the race run between Douala and Buea passing through Limbe.

The lap victory was obtained for Cameroon this time by Kamzong Abossolo Clovis who came second in the third lap between Kribi and Douala on Wednesday. He covered the 96km distance in 2h47'39 to claim the orange jersey of lap winner and a cash prize of FCA100.000 offered by the national hydrocarbons corporation. However, the greatest achievement of the day is the conservation of the yellow jersey of the race leader by Mba Herve Raoul though with a narrow time margin of 36 seconds.

The green jersey of the race leader on points remained with Dutchman, Patrick Kos who has been putting it on since the beginning of the competition. Kamzong Abessolo also conserved the white jersey of the best youth won since the third lap of the race while sky-blue jersey of the best Cameroonian went to Mba Herve Raoul.

The white dotted-red T-shirt of the best climber went to Ivoirian born, Ouattara Bolodigui. The fourth lap though the shortest was the most difficult so far given that the arrival was on the foot of Mount Cameroon. So difficult was the ascent that a Gabonese cyclist had to throw in the towel and arrived at the finishing line on foot.

Meanwhile at the team level, SNH velo club is still leading, followed by CK Banska Bystrica and Regional Centre in the second and third positions respectively. The arrival of the race caravan in Buea took the airs of a popular feast as there were traditional dance groups, a band and some comedians to grace the occasion.

Prominent among those present at the jersey and prize award ceremony was presided by the Secretary General at the South West governor's office in the company of the mayor of Buea council and other top dignitaries of the area. Today the race caravan goes west with the fifth lap to take place between Mbanga and Bafang. The race course is undulated and will imply a lot of climbing around Manjo, Nkongsamba and Famken. Here the race is not for the fleet footed but endurance.