Two Nigerians from Pitstop Club participating in the annual Fundsmith Tour de Lunsar in Sierra Leone are making the country proud and flying the flag high with outstanding performances.
With two former champions of the Fundsmith Tour de Lunsar leading the race, with over 2 minutes of advantage and just 15km to go, it seemed like this opening stage would surely be won by one of two names: Preye John Dede (Team Iluburin) from Nigeria and homeboy Ibrahim Jalloh (Lunsar Cycling Team X).
Two Nigerians provided the needed spark and led the chase for most of the day, with Dede’s teammate Bright Emmanuel busy securing third-place points at both intermediates.
Jalloh was able to cleanly out-sprint Dede for the Zwift sprint at Masiaka, while the Bikmo king of the mountains was a much closer affair, before being called in favor of Jalloh again.
Nigeria's Emmanuel had been riding alone, and at times not that far ahead of the front of the peloton. It was only after the Bikmo KOM at Okra Hill that Emmanuel was joined by Alusine Conteh of Flames – and it was this two-man TT team that began taking chunks out of Dede and Jalloh’s lead.
At Rogberi Junction, it still seemed the leaders were cruising toward a two-man showdown, but by the time they hit Lunsar it was a group of four riders in the mix for the stage victory and first day’s race lead.
As the quartet closed on the line, it was Dede who was first to fade, with Jalloh fighting hard to maintain parity with Emmanuel charging hard up the right-hand side.
Finally, Nigeria's Emmanuel crossed the line ahead by a whisker, with Jalloh in second, and Alusine Conteh taking the third spot.
Heading into tomorrow, Ibrahim Jalloh leads the Zwift sprints competition and the Bikmo climbers’ classification, while the Fundsmith yellow jersey will be worn by Bright Emmanuel.
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