The 37th Tour cycliste international du Faso kicked off on October 30, 2026, with Dutch cyclist Tom Wijfje of Universe Cycling Team taking the lead. Wijfje won the first stage, which covered a distance of 152.15 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya, in 3 hours 29 minutes 10 seconds, averaging a speed of 43.644 km/h. This victory earned him the yellow jersey, symbolizing the leader of the general classification, and the green jersey, awarded for the points classification.
The first stage of the Tour du Faso featured 80 cyclists from 14 teams. Three intermediate sprints were part of the program, with the first one taking place at kilometer 46.26. Moroccan cyclist Youssef Bdadou emerged as the fastest, followed by his compatriot Yacine Hamza and South African Siyanda Gumede of Tshenolo Pro Cycling Team. This early competition set the tone for an exciting stage.
The second intermediate sprint occurred at kilometer 84.31, where Burkinabè Bamassi Soulama of the regional West team took the top spot, ahead of Youssef Bdadou and South African Gustav Basson. The final intermediate sprint at kilometer 120.98 was won by Tom Wijfje, who outpaced Burkinabè Paul Daumont and Malian Yaya Diallo. These sprints showcased the competitive spirit of the cyclists.
In the final kilometers of the stage, Tom Wijfje made a decisive move to cross the finish line first in Kaya. He was followed by Burkinabè Souleymane Koné, who was the best-performing cyclist from Burkina Faso in the stage, and South African Gustav Basson. Wijfje's victory marked a strong start to the Tour du Faso for Universe Cycling Team.
Following the first stage, Tom Wijfje leads the general classification, wearing the yellow jersey. He also tops the points classification, donning the green jersey. Youssef Bdadou secured the jersey for the best performer in the intermediate sprints, while Souleymane Koné wore the jersey for the first Burkinabè. The rankings reflect Wijfje's dominant performance in the opening stage.
The second stage of the Tour du Faso is set to take place on October 31, 2026, covering a distance of 129.75 km from Ouagadougou to Koudougou. The stage includes two intermediate sprints, promising another exciting day of competition among the cyclists. Teams and riders will need to adapt and strategize to tackle the upcoming challenges.
The 37th Tour cycliste international du Faso continues to showcase the talents of cyclists from various countries. With Tom Wijfje's impressive win in the first stage, the competition is heating up. Fans and supporters are eagerly anticipating the subsequent stages to see how the rankings will evolve and which cyclists will emerge as top contenders.
Key points
- Tom Wijfje of Universe Cycling Team won the first stage of the 37th Tour du Faso.
- The second stage of the Tour du Faso will cover 129.75 km from Ouagadougou to Koudougou.
- Tom Wijfje leads the general and points classifications after the first stage.
