Bobo-dioulasso: Burkinabe rider Paul Daumont clinched victory in the third stage of the Tour du Faso during a sprint at the Bobo-Dioulasso criterium on the Boulevard de la Révolution. With this triumph, Daumont secured the three most prestigious jerseys in the competition.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the race in Bobo-Dioulasso, which Daumont considers his adopted city, mirrored his success from 2023. He managed to outpace Moroccan rider El Alouani and Belgian cyclist Yaxano Smet. Originating from Bangui, Central African Republic, Daumont completed the 116.100 km course in 2 hours, 48 minutes, and 8 seconds, maintaining an average speed of 41.431 km/h. He reflected on the challenges faced by him and his teammates during the stage.
Daumont claimed the yellow jersey for time leadership after Belgian competitor De Cabooter Lance suffered three punctures. He also took the green jersey for points and the pink jersey for intermediate sprints. Daumont was 11 seconds ahead of Morocco’s El Alouani Driss
and 18 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Yaxano Smet.
“We tried to toughen up the race by sticking together. We isolated our opponents a bit. We’re staying focused because we expect a tough battle for the rest of the competition,” Daumont remarked.
The contest for the coveted jerseys sparked a fierce competition among riders from Mali, Burkina Faso, Morocco, and Belgium. Attempts to break away for bonus points were swiftly neutralized. A group of five riders, including Daumont, managed to break away six laps before the final showdown. Malian Tiémoko Diallo initiated the breakaway by capturing the first hot spot, with Belgian Timmy De Boes winning the second intermediate sprint, and Malian Djandoubé Diallo taking the third.
Throughout these developments, Daumont and his team maintained a relentless pace, which proved too much for many competitors, including those from Ghana, Benin, Niger, and Togo. The competition is set to continue with the fourth stage between Bobo-Dioulasso and Diébougou, spanning 128.170 km.