Team Epic’s Joseph Zubil pulled a huge surprise after beating some of the top and established cyclists in the country to win this year’s Osagyefo Criterium race held at the Accra Sports Stadium last Thursday.
He won the Elite Men’s event with outstanding composure and pace in the third edition of the event held in honour of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He emerged as the winner of the heated circuit race of 129.5km with 25 laps over an average speed of 38.93km/hr to push his wheels over the finishing line in a time of 3:19:35.
He was followed closely by Team Subsea of Nigeria sprinter, Abdul Malik Yusif Alhassan, in a time of 3:19:36 for the second position, while veteran wheeler and Gladiators’,NuruPardieAlhassan, settled for the third position with a time of 3:29:36.
Zubil took home a medal and cash prize of GH☼15,000, while Abdul Malik Yusif Alhassan took home GH¢7,000 with Gladiators’ finisher,NuruPardieAlhassan, taking home a cool GH¢5,000 for the third position.
In the female category of 77.7km over 15laps registering an average speed of 32.54km/ hr, Nigerian Ese Okpeseraye finished in a time of 2:15:17 to secure the first place, while Mary Samuel took second position in 2:23:55 and Treasure Coxson was third in 2:23:55.
Oldest Cyclist, Annan Adams, managed to pick up the pieces, finishing with the young riders award in a time of 3:19:48.
This year’s event was sponsored by Gladiators cycling club, in collaboration with the Ghana Cycling Federation, Dalex, DHL, Oswal Investment Limited and supported by Voltic, Kaz, GBB, PayAll, Alisa Hotel, Cycle City, Kowri, 787 and Gladiators.
BY MICHAEL D.ABAYATEYE
