Here are some of my favorite images so far from the Tour du Faso. It’s been a blast travelling with Team Benin and documenting Africa’s toughest bicycle race. I’ll continue adding shots as the race continues.
Check CyclingNews.com for my full race reports and the Benin Team blog:
Race Reports: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-du-faso-2-2
Racing Squirrels Blog: http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/cycling-in-benin
Photo Highlights, Batch 2:
Spectators watch curiously as a breakaway passes through a road cut in the rolling hills of southwestern Burkina Faso.
Belgian Laurent Mars arrives at the tent camp with his local fan club.
The peloton takes on the hills outside of Bobo Dioulasso.
Boukari Kagambega claims Burkina Faso's first TdFaso stage win in three years.
The peloton crosses a dam along the 26km "piste" of stage nine.
A Senegalese rider drives a chase group through the dust of Koudougou.
Team Reine Blanche protects their yellow jersey in the final stage.
Young Burkina star Abdoul Aziz Nikieme shines in the spotlight after his glorious win in Ouagadougou.
Aubierge Soglo has been Benin's most consistent rider in this year's tour.
Bicycles are integral to daily life throughout Burkina Faso. It's no wonder they produce the best cyclists in the region.
Self portrait on the shiny rig of a motorcycle cop.
Red/yellow/green: the colors of the Benin National Team. I spotted this peacock flower (Cæsalpinia pulcherrima) along the race course. This photo is NOT digitally altered! Crazy, huh?
Photo Highlights, Batch 1:
The peloton goes single-file during the first of ten days racing over 1300km.
Aubierge Soglo has proven himself as Benin’s strongest rider in this year’s Tour.
Coach Fernand Gandaho discusses strategy with the team after the first day of racing.
A schoolgirl takes notes for an assignment about the bike race.
The Tour started in central Burkina where the dry season has just started.
Farther north, the dry Sahel scorched riders with heat over 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Tour de Faso provides a rare opportunity for the best African cyclists to compete with Europeans on home soil.
Poland’s Zbigniew Gucwa wins the second stage.
A group of Fulani watch the race from the shade of an acacia tree.
A farmer contemplates joining the action.
These Chinese-manufactured bikes are common throughout West Africa.
It’s a long hot road for this group of riders from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast.
The peloton departs from the Sahelian village of Bani.
Spectators are excited to watch the race blur through their village.
Belgian Laurent Mars wins stage five ahead of his elated teammate and the furiously sprinting pack.
Thanks for bringing this great race & African bike-racing to the world’s attention – I’ll need to add another line to my bucketlist.
These riders symbolize the true spirit of competitive-cycling. Viva le Tour du Faso…and GOOD LUCK TEAM BENIN!!!!
Thanks very much for sharing these photos and stories. What determination!
Great photos, many thanks for sharing.
I wish there was TV coverage somewhere…
Hello!
Awesome gallery! Nice to bring this remembering to Belgium. Great pleasure to can show those pictures to my familly and friends.
Thank you very much.
Have a good journey to Benin.
Laurent
Love the picture of the farmer watching the race. Bikes are for everyone.
Great way to tell the story of the Benin team and the Burkina race! You are a fabuous photographer, and you have a knack for catching the excitement and meaning for those watching the event on the ground. I feel like I was there!
Kris
Lovely photos. Are hi-res images available to buy? I’m thinking they would make great posters.
Hi Tory Bernabe right here. I love what you people are up to at http://quietgriot.com/archives/636. This type of clever work and reporting! I wish I could do the same. Carry on the wonderful effort guys. I’ve you to blogroll.