A coloured breakaway
The idea of a stage based on a circuit in the streets of Bobo-Dioulasso inspired many riders right form the start of the stage. Olivier Keita (Sen) is the first to attack followed by his compatriot Thiam, Tall (Bur) and Von strein (Hol). Quickly caught by the peloton, he gives it another go on as he crosses the line for the first time, alongside Fabrice Debrabant (Fra), Bram Van Der Leij (Hol) and Kentaro Heshita (Jap). The six riders in the lead, maybe the most cosmopolitan group ever seen in cycling, are eventually caught after having had a 15'' advantage on the peloton.

Burkina on the move
Just before the end of the third of 12 laps, Tapsoba (Bur) starts the break that will finally enable Burkina Faso to reconquer the yellow jersey. After Jérémie Ouedraogo (Bur), Didier Agbefu (TOG) and Van Der Leij, a group of 13 riders including former leader A.Wahab Sawadogo, start a counter-attack. They catch the leading man just before the 5th crossing of the finish line (km 50,5), while the lead on the peloton moves up to 1'25''.

No more peloton
Meanwhile, yellow jersey holder Karel Pattyn has decided to react and attacks to try and defend his position. A group of 13 riders give a helping hand including runner-up Tidiane Ouedraogo (Bur), only a second adrift. Behind, the two short climbs up the Boulevard de la Révolution and the Avenue Charles de Gaulle have proven too difficult for many. One can no longer talk about a peloton.

Too late for Pattyn
Even for the “yellow jersey” group, it looks like it's already too late. At kilometre 76, they remain 1'45'' adrift. The four men that appear to still have enough energy, Chevalier (Fra), Thiam, Debrabant and Cuylits, work together without however managing to achieve their goal.

Stage for Walgien
In the Belgian camp, Pattyn and his team mates collapse and lose ground as the laps go by. At the final bell (for the last lap, km 111), they are 4'20'' adrift: in other words, it appears now obvious that Burkina and its hero A.Wahab Sawadogo wil reclaim the yellow jersey. For stage victory, Dutchman Jorry Walgien proves to be the most powerful in the final sprint going slightly uphill. He claims the stage ahead of national sprinter Saïdou Rouamba.

Tidiane's “Bobo”

Destiny looked like it was going his way this morning. With just a one second deficit on Karel Pattyn in the overall standings, Tidiane Ouedraogo had the possibilty to conquer the yellow jersey of the Tour of Faso, the dream of any Burkina Faso rider. Especially because such a fantastic day could happen in his home town of Bobo-Dioulasso. And for him, that would be a real symbol. He left this city he loves so much for his passion of cycling a few years ago when the AS Onatel club offered him a contract that required for him to move to the country's capital. Very close to his family, the young rider had then hesitated a while before accepting the proposition. “You have to become a man and sometimes take difficult decisions”, his father told him a few weeks before passing away. “Now it's very special going through Bobo. Many memories come back to mind”, explained Tidiane while taking us for a visit of his “Bobo”.

The main contender for the yellow jersey naturally started by taking us to the home that saw him grow in the suburbs of Bobo, where his family still lives. A house where he could see his 10-year-old daughter Ladifatou-Magali, that he had left for weeks while preparing the Tour. His mother, his sister and some of his brothers and nephews had also come to greet and support Tidiane. Around the family table and a good soothing drink, he explains the little stories that make the Tour of Faso, asks everyone how they are, and remembers the first bike his father had offered him when he was just 5: a Sifa, the brand that is also the sponsor of his team on the Faso!

The sweetness of the conversation makes time fly. Night has almost already fallen on Bobo but Tidiane still wants to take us to the old Mosque of the city. Muslim, he decided to delay the traditional ramadan to be able to compete in the Faso race, exactly like authorised by the Coran. For him, “religion is also what makes me strong”.

A quick visit to the market is also necessary. That's where, at the time, he would go to see the president of his former club (the vélo club de Bobo), who owned a hardware store.

At 8h30, the local hero was ready to take on a circuit where he had won so many youth competitions in the past. No worries for the course then! However, the number 53 bib fails to follow the early breaks and especially the decisive move. Rapidly he has to settle with the fact that he won't be the hero of Bobo today. And as planned in the morning meeting, Tidiane decides to go for plan 'B'. His team mate A.Wahab Sawadogo in the leading group, Ouedraogo's task is to mark yellow jersey holder Karel Pattyn. And that's exaclty what he does with courage and team spirit. Not really a surprise, knowing the person!

Actually, when crossing the finish line in 19th position, a ranking that makes him drop down to 11th spot overall, Tidiane shows no sign of deception. The ultimate mission to conquer the yellow jersey for Burkina was accomplished, and mainly thanks to him. But that doesn't really seem to be understood by little ten year old Ladifatou-Magali. Daddy didn't win and that's a catastrophe!