In short

Stage winner	Lionel SYNE
	Lionel SYNE
	Lionel SYNE
	Julien GONNET
	Seydou SANFO
	Abdelati SAADOUNE
	Stéphane BONSERGEN
» Jerseys' description

 

All classifications

Stage
• Individual time
Overall
• Individual time • Individual points • Best team

 

Stage by stage

1	Wednesday 25 October	91 km
	Ouagadougou > Manga
2	Thursday 26 October	121 km
	Manga > (Pô) > Tiébélé
3	Friday 27 October	140 km
	Pô > Ouagadougou
4	Saturday 28 October	129 km
	Boussé > Ouahigouya
5	Sunday 29 October	150 km
	Yako > Ziniaré
6	Tuesday 31 October	136 km
	Kokologo > Boromo
7	Wednesday 1 November	83.5 km
	Bobo Dioulasso > Banfora
8	Thursday 2 November	121 km
	Bobo Dioulasso > Bobo Dioulasso
9	Friday 3 November	115 km
	Boromo > (Sabou) > Koudougou
10	Saturday 4 November	96 km
	Linoghin > Pouytenga
11	Sunday 5 November	88 km
	Loumbila (Barrage) > Ouagadougou
Total		1270.5 km

 

The race

Wednesday 25 October 2006

stage 1 | Ouagadougou > Manga - 91 km

The return of the Californian

In 2002, Lionel Syne, who lived in Los Angeles, had been kindly nicknamed the Californian. Since then, the Belgian returned to his country, focused on his professional career and reduced his training sessions. But on the Tour du Faso, Syne seems to have lost neither his nickname nor his speed. After a stage in which the big teams controlled the numerous attempts, the Belgian was the fastest of a fine bunched sprint. Julien Gonnet who spent a good part of his day in the lead was rewarded by a nice collection of jerseys: pink (intermediate sprints), white (best young rider) and red (fighting spirit).

The film of the stage

108 riders at the start

After the late arrival of the Egyptians during the evening of the eve of the start, the list of starters fitted exactly that of the entrants: 108 riders, spread in 18 different teams and present on the start line in Ouaga. The first stage is never insignificant. It was with that certainty that the attacking riders gave it a go in the first kilometres. A first group including quite a few riders from Brittany took off after the fourth kilometre. It was eventually caught back after a three kilometre effort but one of the team mates carried on alone. Julien Gonnet increased his advantage without serious consequences at first, but still managed to make it clear at the first intermediate. The harvest of points had started.

Gonnet hunts for points

A bunch of counter-attackers caught up with Gonnet at kilometre 25. This little pack of ten men including at least a member of the top teams (Burkina, Morocco…), worked just enough to enjoy a minute’s advance at km 28, but never insisted too much. Still as eager to shine, Julien Gonnet, took off to try and clinch more precious points in Kombissiri (km 33,5). Immediately after, the increase of pace in the main pack proved to be fatal for the man from Brittany.

Full house at the intermediate sprints

In the new leading group that was to shape up, the balance of forces prevented a real cooperation. The pressure on behalf of the riders from the Sofitex team (Burkina-Faso) in the first positions of the pack allowed keeping good control of the leading riders and the gap stabilized at around 30’’. Still as determined, Julien Gonnet again tried to break away as the riders got closer to the intermediate sprint in Toéssé. He found in Karel Pattyn a perfect and precious companion. After collecting the most points in the intermediate sprints, 25 kms remained for Gonnet, but the duo only had a 25 second advantage on the main field bunched together again. The young wolf wasn’t however discouraged but five kilometres later a puncture forced him to move back in the pack.

Syne jumps out of the Brittany train

Karel Pattyn who has in the past suffered different strategies set up by the Burkina teams insisted just a bit more but was caught back with ten kilometres to go. A bunched sprint was therefore to be prepared in the final kilometres. Jérémie Ouedraogo and Saïdou Rouamba were of course candidates for stage victory but a muddle with 300m to go prevented them from fighting for the win. The Belgians on the other hand had well prepared their business: while Roosen took off for a first attack, Syne remained hidden behind the “Brittany train”. He made his effort in the last 150m and captured his third victory in the Tour du Faso… And to reward his efforts, Roosen clinched second spot.

LE MAGAZINE

History digest

Everyone is surprised, each person is delighted. The Tour du Faso, born like all good ideas thanks to a happy mixture of circumstances is about to live its twentieth edition. On that morning a special edition of the Sidwaya Sport newspaper reminded that at the hour of its conception, “the obstacles to the project… made it as realistic as it was unachievable”. However without the slightest absence ever since 1987, a pack prepares to battle it out on the roads of Burkina-Faso. The big moment was to take place at the Maison des Peuples in Ouagadougou for the team presentation and that ever present feeling of solemnity and euphoria. And to respect an original tradition, the latecomers were to give shivers to the race organisers: the Angolans only just made it on time to climb on the podium while the Egyptians were still stuck in a transit airport…. Routine, as usual!

And when time had come to launch the festivities, Jean-Claude Hérault seemed especially moved, mentioning the path covered: it is clearly “the biggest cycling event of the African continent”. And the parade of the teams only confirmed the quick presentation given by the event director. While the Burkina riders led by Jérémie Ouedraogo recently awarded as being the best African rider of the year, have the legitimate ambition of keeping their title, the contenders have never looked as numerous and credible. Morocco, thanks to the victory of Saadoune in 2002, intends on making their hosts live the same bad memories this year again; Cameroon has a very impressive team and quite a few victories this season; Brittany can count on two riders from the Jean Floc’h team; Belgium that has only just missed out on final victory in recent years has come with its best assets; Senegal promises to continue its progression and Egypt makes many tremble!

With such riders, this twentieth edition should be the real firework that many of the followers of African cycling were hoping for. One can already feel revenge; changes of generations are to be expected just as much as duels and meetings. Well aware of the stakes that represent the Tour du Faso and the difficulty of the task yet to accomplish, Jean-Pierre Palm concludes by asking the Stallions of toady and tomorrow to perform : “we want these athletes to live thanks to their sport in this country”, insists the Sports Minister. Professionalisation seems to be the next challenge for Burkina cycling.

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