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 Friday 4 November 2005 |
| stage 9Bousse > Ouahigouya - 129 km |
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| A family affair |
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After four years of frustration and anticipation, Mahamadi Sawadogo, the most active rider in the bunch at long last won his second stage in the Tour du Faso. To make in back on the top of a stage podium, Mahamadi needed courage and hard work but also the help of his older brother Abdul Wahab, the defending Tour champion, who made sure he could lead the decisive move until the finish. Each brother has now won a stage on this Tour, more than ever led by Jeremie Ouedraog, who is no longer under the threat of Cameroon’s Martinien Tega.
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No way out
The first kilometres, ridden at a steady pace, prevented any attempt to break. Belgian Gunter Cuylits, along with Senegal’s Abdoulaye Thiam and Frenchman Andre Valery, soon joined by Angola’s Marcio « Mucanza » Guevara, still gave it a try after seven kilometres, but the usual close watch imposed by Burkina riders quashed the first serious move just before the day’s first intermediate sprint at kilometre 26, won by Cameroon’s Sanda, ahead of Burkina’s Tall and Belgium’s Marien.
Scattered peloton
In an even more intense heat than usual, and with strong headwind to tire out already exhausted riders, the main pack started losing little groups as soon as kilometre 30. Within 15 km, the pace had sorted the men from the boys and the leading group was reduced to some 30 riders, including the yellow jersey holder. At sprint number 2 (km 52) the usual suspects were again in action, pink jersey holder Marien beating race leader Ouedraogo and points leader Rouamba. At that stage, Ouedraogo led the Stallions team chief by ten seconds overall.
Tega’s bad day
What was left of the peloton was again skimmed by the relentless work of Ouedraogo’s team, Gueswende Sawadogo again proving the most active of the Burkina riders by setting the tempo at the front of the race. A few brave riders still attempted to attack – at kiometre 80, Abdul Wahab Sawadogo, accompanied by Mahamadi Sawadogo, Thiam and Marcio Guevara, broke clear and rapidly took a 20 seconds lead. The two brothers, judging the cooperation of their two companions a little timid, decided to set up their own family plan. Abdul Wahab attacked first (km 112), only to be joined by Mahamadi four kilometres later. At first, Mucanza was able to resist the double blow. In the meantime, in the main bunch, Tega, fourth overall at the start, suddenly lost ground, precious time and his last hopes for overall victory.
Five kilometres from the finish, Mahamadi finally made the decisive move, his brother keeping an eye on Mucanza. The break also allowed last year’s Tour winner to move to second in the overall standings and to crown a great day for the Sawadogos.
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Schoolteachers on a mission
Others have said it before but they agree – cycling is not all that matters in life. When you have chosen to become a teacher, as is the case for three riders of the Val d’Essonne French team, it is more than just an idle thought. As well as a unique sporting challenge for riders of a good regional level but with no experience of stage races, the Tour du Faso is also for the three an opportunity to do something more than just ride a bike. It is also a way to make themselves useful and to complete a project launched two years ago.
The idea came up during a visit to schools in Bobo-Dioulasso by two or our schoolteachers, Olivier Derquenne and Allen Roinet, who were on a trip to Burkina Faso. Shocked by the hard conditions in which the pupils were studying, they thought of ways to help them acquire books, school material and furniture and to improve their surroundings. The two were also decent bike riders and dreamt of one day taking part in the Tour du Faso. A few contacts with the organisers were enough for them to realise that their six-man team had what it took to be invited to the Tour. The project was on its way: “We chose to focus on handing out books, but not school handbooks which are usually available in the country. We bought all the books on the spot, first to be able to give more but also to help the local economy,” said Olivier, a teacher in Grigny.
And now six men pedal in the sun in Burkina Faso every morning and meet children and teachers in schools every afternoon. On top of the 1,381.5 kilometres of racing, the six handed out some 3,000 books in six schools. Every time, the riders are welcome by teachers, kids and parents in such a way that Olivier, the team leader, can hardly believe his luck: “It’s unbelievable to realise how much they need all this material. The dark side is that this project, which required a 9,000 euros budget, is both important for them and just ridiculous compared with the needs. There are 130 pupils in each classroom when we have 30.”
Olivier and his mates are determined not to stop now and to keep close links between the Burkina pupils and their own at home: “I’m optimistic because now that the contact has taken place, we can keep in touch, through the internet, by sending more books and by mail. We are keen to keep the contact. Our children and them have a lot to learn from each other,” he said.
And how about the race? Olivier Derquenne is also the best rider in his team, lying 17th in the overall standings and he hopes to be able to win a stage.
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