Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkinabè sprinter Paul Daumont won on Friday in Bobo-Dioulasso, in the city where he grew up, during the 8th stage of the Tour du Faso (criterium), in front of the Ivorian Abou Sanogo and the Belgian Wouters Rutger, honoring his fans.
This 8th stage was a bracing race from the start. The Burkinabè runner Paul Daumont and his lieutenants increased the surveillance of the favorites, leaving the Moroccan Achraf Ed-Doghmy at the head of a breakaway of 3 runners, winning the first hot point on the 5th lap at km 51 .
On the 6th lap , the Belgian Wouters attempted a forced exit to gain distance from Daumont. The Burkinabè responds and holds on to his wheel, annihilating any attempts to reduce the gap which was 22 seconds before the start of the stage. The Cameroonian Nounawé Rodrigue Kuere who valiantly defended his pink jersey from the hot spots also went for the second intermediate sprint on the 8th lap to strengthen his jersey.
The riders, on the Burkinabè side, did a huge job in bringing Paul Daumont to the forefront on the final straight. He took the opportunity to start a sprint almost 100m from the finish. He showers Abou Sanogo and his challenger Wouters Rutger with an average speed of 42.504km/h, or 2h23mn59sec of time taken over the 102km.
“I’m happy to have won the Bobo stage in my town where I grew up, in front of my supporters and those who saw me grow up. I am very happy and very proud,” said Paul Daumont at the finish, which marks his 5th stage victory in the competition.
He now widens a gap of 28 seconds with his pursuer Wouter Ruger and is inexorably moving towards a final victory at the end of the 10th stage in Ouagadougou. While waiting for this final stage, the caravan will set off tomorrow, Saturday November 4, for the Bobo-Dioulasso – Pa stage, 126,700km long.
The Tour du Faso 2023 takes place from October 26 to November 5 over a race distance of 1187.600km in 10 stages and will cross 7 regions of Burkina out of 13. It is the German Daniel Bichlmann who holds the yellow jersey, won in 2021.
Source: Burkina Information Agency