Belgian rider Tomas De Neve claimed a commanding victory in Stage 3 of the 2025 Tour du Ghana cycling competition yesterday, powering to the finish line in a blistering time of 1:54:07 hours to take the first yellow jersey of the multi-day race.
The 23-year-old Belgian out-sprinted a fast-finishing bunch in central Accra after a hot and chaotic 78 km circuit race that saw several late attacks and crashes splinter the field.
De Neve held off Dutch rider Tom Wyfve by just over seven seconds, while fellow Belgian Fil D’Heygere rounded out the podium only 7.7 seconds off the winning pace.
“It was a very nervous final,” De Neve said shortly after crossing the line situated near the HO ECG office. “The African guys were riding super aggressively, and the heat made it tough, but my legs felt good, and the team kept me perfectly positioned. This win is a dream start.”
Burkina Faso dominated the next wave of finishers, with Saturnin Yaméogo in fourth, followed by Rawende Moucaila (6th) and Soumaila Ilboudo (seventh), all crossing the line within nine seconds of the winner.
The strong showing underlined the growing depth of West African cycling, with riders from Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Nigeria and hosts Ghana all featuring prominently in the top 20.
Solid Ghanaian performance
Home fans had plenty to cheer as Ghana’s Victor Cudjo Akpabli delivered a solid 18th place on his Tour du Ghana debut, finishing in the second group just 31 seconds down.
Greater Accra regional riders also made their presence felt, with several finishing inside the top 50 despite the intense pace set by the European contingent.
Notable performances further down included Benin’s Rémi Sowou in 15th and Nigeria’s Gabriel John Odumu in 14th, while Dutch veteran Bart Buijk rolled across in 32nd after a late mechanical slowed his chase.
With valuable bonus seconds at stake, De Neve now leads the points classification, strengthening his grip on the race’s early standings.
Burkina Faso’s squad will don the Most Aggressive Team prize after launching a series of relentless attacks throughout the afternoon that kept the peloton on edge.
The competition continues today (Thursday) with Stage 4, an 80km circuit from Ho to Fume and back, a route expected to further test the riders’ resilience after a demanding first week.
German pacesetter
The 2025 Tour du Ghana burst into life last Saturday in Accra, where German rider Philipp Bachi of the Obroni team set the early benchmark by storming to victory in the 3.5km Prologue, claiming the Tour’s first yellow jersey.
Flagged off at the historic Osu Castle by Ghana Olympic Committee President Richard Akpokavie, the Prologue carried riders through the heart of the capital and finished at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where the fastest individual times were rewarded.
Last Tuesday, Bastian Dieti of the Obroni Riders — a German cyclist of Austrian descent — captured the Stage 2 victory, after adverse weather conditions forced organisers to cancel the original Stage 1.
The Daily Graphic understands that the Ghana Cycling Federation is considering scheduling the postponed Stage 1 to a later date yet to be confirmed.
This year’s Tour du Ghana features 72 riders from 10 teams, including three Ghanaian squads and three European teams, underscoring the event’s rapidly growing international stature.
