The Second Phase of the National Cycling Tour of Ghana has been officially launched with a call on the cyclists to use the two weeks event to create the necessary avenue to help propagate the message of peace and successful general elections to the people.

Mr Worlanyo Agra, Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) who launched the programme in Accra on Wednesday said, cycling cuts across all fabrics of the Ghanaian society and has come of age; he noted that with the necessary attention, the sport would go a long way in ensuring peaceful co-existence in the country.

The ‘Tour du Ghana’, which is being organized by the Ghana Cycling Federation with Promasidor Ghana Limited as the main sponsor, will have 70 cyclists drawn from 12 teams undertaking the race on 11 stages over a distance of 1,313 kilometers across eight regions.

Mr Agra commended the Cycling Federation for working as an independent body and organising series of competitions for its members and urged it to consider inviting riders from other sister West African countries to participate in their future cycling programmes.

The eight stages of the Tour which is scheduled for 15th to 27th May, will start from Accra to Mankessim thence to Cape Coast to Takoradi, Assin Fosu to Kumasi, Kumasi to Sunyani, Sunyani to Tamale, Buipe to Kintampo, Techiman to Kumasi, Koforidua through Mamfe, Adukrom and back to Koforidua; Ada through Dodze through Denu with the last stage from Ada through Tema and the finishing line at Accra.

At stake are a number of jerseys made up of yellow, red, green, blue and white to signify winners of the various stages of the Tour as well medals and trophies all donated by Promasidor Ghana Limited at a total cost 682 million Ghana cedis as well as insurance cover for the cyclists.

Mr Olivier Thiry, Managing Director of Promasidor Ghana Limited, said the company was committed to the development of the sport and will collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure that it develops to the status of the internationally acclaimed ‘Tour du France”.

He said the company will also support the development of other lesser known sports disciplines such as athletics, swimming and table tennis and noted that, it is their conviction that the Tour will also help develop local tourism and business activities within the local communities.

Mr Mohammed Sahnoon, President of the Ghana Cycling Federation commended Promasidor and other companies for supporting the Federation in participating in cycling competitions in Togo, Burkina Faso, the Unity games and the All Africa Games.

He said the collaboration with the stakeholders has ensured that the Federation helped to provide avenues to support the youth in developing their talents and also urged for total support from the various communities and the public to ensure a successful ‘Tour du Ghana’.

Other sponsors and collaborators of the event include Pens and Plastics Ghana Limited, TV3, MTTU, National Sports Authority, BIC, the Multimedia Group and other media organizations.**