Editorial
Already 20 years old!
Many of those who witnessed the stream of cyclists ride by as part of the first Tour du Faso back in 1987 will doubtless find it hard to believe that twenty years have past since that memorable day. In our society this figure marks a coming of age. Indeed the Tour du Faso, a cycling competition that even the organisers initially thought would be an occasional event, has become an enduring institution and we hope that it will continue and improve with age just like its forerunner the Tour de France which celebrated its centenary in 2003.
Twenty is a symbolic age and a milestone for a competition like the Tour du Faso which has built up such notoriety in our continent and beyond that each year as the start date comes closer we rack our brains to find ways to make it even more popular and to ensure that it survives for many years to come. Therefore this year's twentieth anniversary is full of significance and calls for something really special.
One clear certainty is that every year the organisation of the Tour du Faso plays its part in the development of the sport of cycling in Burkina Faso and the whole African continent, and to development in general. Another fact is that people are at the centre of this development. That is why we need to concentrate on the participants themselves and how they can become even more competitive and make a living out of their talent and their sport.
Burkina Faso's cyclists are amongst the best in their category in Africa, which is why they were invited to take part in the world championships in Salzburg from September 15th to 18th 2006. In this race, our cyclists did their best but were unfortunately not in the same league as the world's leading cyclists.
Therefore there is much to do before our heroes can hope to be in amongst the peloton in the Tour de France or the Giro d'Italia and to compete on equal footing for the top accolades in the world of cycling. I urge you all to set your sights in this direction for the 20th anniversary of the Tour du Faso.
Nevertheless, let us take this opportunity to recognise and salute the initiators of this professional cycling race that makes our country proud.
We are enormously grateful to all those who have helped it to grow in a lasting way. Firstly many thanks to His Excellency the President of Burkina Faso for his discreet but highly effective support for so many years. Thanks also to the local authorities and to the people living along the route chosen for the race for their hospitality, to the Cycling Federation of Burkina Faso, to the International Cyclist Union (UCI), to sponsors from Africa and abroad and, last but by no means least, to the Amaury Sport Organisation which has dedicated its expertise to making our beloved Tour du Faso what it is today.
We also salute the media professionals whose coverage has always given an extra dimension to this special sporting event, all the sports fans of Burkina Faso for their enthusiasm and especially the loyal followers of the Tour du Faso.
Finally, to all those who will once again honour the race with their presence this year, athletes, officials, guests and supporters, welcome to the 20th Tour du Faso!
And enjoy the party!
Chevalier de l'Ordre National
The 20th “True Sportsman's” Tour
When men bring together their will, enthusiasm and intelligence thoughts of war and skin colour are left behind in pursuit of the common objective. So many obstacles have been overcome to create today's symbol of shared success: the Tour du Faso. The Tour du Faso is a symbol of pride for Burkina, we must now seek to build on the international renown to develop greater recognition of the African cyclists and to make the tour an international event and improve the quality of the participating teams in future Tour du Faso.
On the eve of the event's 20th anniversary our thanks go to all those who have contributed to its success: the racers, the Burkinan state representatives, the Burkinan Cycling Federation, the media, the sponsors, volunteers and many others.
In a country whose hospitality is legendary, the Tour du Faso has found its own stages, imposed its rhythm and written its own history and poetry to become “The True Sportsman's Tour”.
Jean-Claude Hérault