Farrakhan Shaaban Mohammed, the sensational junior cyclist from River Park club in the Eastern Region, has set his sights on becoming Ghana’s first representative at the prestigious Tour de France after a remarkable double victory recently.
The 18-year-old prodigy, who dominated the men’s junior 25km individual time trial at the 10th National Cycling Championship at Ablekuma last Saturday, was also crowned the Best Young Rider at the just-concluded Tour du Ghana.
Speaking exclusively to Graphic Sports shortly after receiving his latest accolade, the soft-spoken but determined Farrakhan declared: “I will soldier on. My dream is to become Ghana’s number one cyclist and the first Ghanaian to ride the Tour de France. Nothing will stop me.”
At the National Championship held at Olebu, Greater Accra Region, Farrakhan clocked an impressive 38 minutes and 10 seconds over two laps — averaging 39.30 km/h — to leave his rivals trailing.
Anwar Sadat Abudu (43:02) and Pious Mensah (46:00), both from River Park club, completed the podium.
His blistering form continued at the Tour du Ghana, where judges named him the standout young rider of the multi-stage race, further cementing his reputation as the brightest talent in Ghanaian cycling.
National Cycling Association officials and coaches have described Farrakhan’s rapid rise as “extraordinary”, with many tipping him as the long-awaited successor to veterans such as Francis Amu, who won the elite men’s title at the same national championship.
“I thank God, my coaches, and my family. This is just the beginning,” he said. “I will keep training hard every day until Ghana’s flag is raised at the Tour de France.”
With performances that already rival some of the country’s top seniors, Mohammed’s journey to the pinnacle of world cycling appears to have only just begun.
