18e International Cycling Tour of Benin : These figures to know

The first pedal stroke of the 18th International Tour of Benin will be given on Tuesday 02 May 2023 in Parakou. Ahead of the sporting event, a press conference is hosted by the Benin Cycling Federation (FBC) and its partners on Thursday 27 April at the Novotel hotel in Cotonou. Ten departments out of twelve are to be covered for this edition.

The Benin International Cycling Tour, becomes year after year an unmissable event for cyclists from the continent and elsewhere, For years. Editing 2023 will see enough change. The course, challenges, the countries in the running have been revealed by the organizers.

Indeed, the 18th International Cycling Tour of Benin will be held from 02 at 06 next May. In total, 768, 03 Km to cover in five (5) stages by the runners who will fail at the foot of the sumptuous statue of the Amazon located, behind the Presidency of the Republic. South Africa and Mauritania having withdrawn their participation at the last moment, three western countries (France, the Netherlands and Guam) will be challenged by African cyclists who come from countries such as : The Ivory Coast, nigeria, and Togo, the Morocco, Algeria, Ile Maurice, Cameroon and Benin, organizing country which will present two teams of young riders.

According to the explanations of the president of the Beninese Cycling Federation (FBC) and General Manager of the Tour, Romuald Hazoumè, all arrangements are made to ensure a smoother running of the International Cycling Tour of Benin. " Security, logistic, health, everything is in order. The tour will travel ten (10)  of the twelve (12) departments of Benin. The different delegations, the organizers and the partners will carry out a transhipment which will leave from Cotonou on 30 April for Porto-Novo, Kétou, Saver and Parakou », did he know. May 1st will be devoted to the presentation of the teams and the technical meeting. The first pedal stroke will be given on 02 May in Parakou. “Arrival in Djougou, all for a distance of 132, 530km to go. The 2nd stage will take place between Parakou-Save, distance 156,42Km. On arrival in Savè, lunch will be provided. Then the caravan will go to Bohicon to spend the night ».

But to go to Bohicon, she will say the caravan will pass through Paouignan, Panamanian, cover. “We will spend three nights at Bohicon. From Bohicon we will do the spider tour. Once you arrive in Bohicon, the 4 May there will be the stage that will start from Abomey for Comè (140,520Km). We will show the area of ​​Possotomè, Lalo, the region of Sahouè which is a magnificent region, Lake Aheme. It's gonna be beautiful. Our role is not only cycling. It is also to be able to bring more to our country by showing how it is done in the Tour de France, the patrimony, the country…We have something to show the sport and show both cycling at every stage”, said Romuald Hazoumè, General Manager of the Tour.

The next step, will undergo a 72km transhipment between Bohicon-Kétou and will leave Kétou for Porto-Novo, long 109, 450Km. “There are palm groves around. We'll have a lot to see. The landscape is wonderful. There is no pothole. It's a road that we can call billiards. Thanks to the government which is in the process of adjusting Benin's road infrastructure, we can afford to make an irreproachable turn in road logistics”, greeted the keynote speaker. After the Porto-Novo stage, the caravan returns to Bohicon to spend the night. Once in Bohicon, the caravan moves towards Sèhouè for the last stage, that of Sèhouè-Cotonou.

According to the explanations of President Romuald Hazoumè, once arrived in Allada, the riders will attack Tori-Bossito-Ouidah. A Ouidah, they will take the Ahozon toll for Pahou-Godomey-Carrefour CFAO Vèdoko-Houéyiho overpass for Cadjèhoun, then Place des Martyrs (current Place du Souvenir, editor's note), to turn right along the airport. Cyclists will pass for the first time at the Bio Guerra roundabout-a first time in front of Erevan-Sofitel-Novotel-window of the Amazon statue-wall of the port-carrefour hotel du port-LNB. The caravan will turn just at the level of the General Staff of the National Navy (ex-behind the Littoral prefecture-in front of the devoted garden-crossroads of the three banks-in front of the direction of Moov-soneb roundabout, then towards place des martyrs. They will go straight towards the Bio Guerra monument-the Yerevan roundabout to stop in front of the Agodjié l’Amazone. "We will have the leaders' jerseys handed over that day. The tour ended that day with the 5 steps", said Romuald Hazoumè before announcing the organization of the Cotonou Grand Prix, which will take place on a 104.4 km circuit on the fishing route in Fidjrossè.

However, he recalled that Benin will be present on the Tour of Benin 2023 with young runners. “We have rejuvenated the team by keeping two people who still have the strength to go, that is to say who can be in the peloton. We do not promise ourselves to win the yellow jersey but we are sure that in a few years, we do not dream of having the yellow jersey but we dream of tickling the best », he indicated.