on 2013 Cowbell National Cycling Tour

The 2013 Cowbell National Cycling Tour ended on a successful note, after the flag off that started 72 riders representing 12 clubs. They rode a distance of 1313 kilometers at top speed averaged at 40 kilometers per hour. After 13 days competing in 11 stages, Prosper Agbo of City Migro was named the champion.

Fans of Cycling Comment on the 2013 Cowbell National Cycling Tour:

*Peter Yaw Affort - (National Cycling Champion - 1977). He founded the Stars Cycling Club in 1973 and represented Ghana at the ECOWAS Games to become an International Cyclist.

“I think the young cyclists are surprising the senior cyclist and I believe it is very good for the sport. Young, new riders have come on board and it means Ghanaians still love Cycling and the government must come on the support the sport like it is doing to Football”

“You Know Cycling is about strength and when it gets tough you can see the young blood climbing and riding at top speed. The Future of Ghana Cycling is bright. We need funds to organise because those who organize and those who participate and win must be rewarded. In Cycling, you cannot charge gate fees like Football or Boxing, so we need funds from the government and corporate bodies. The Ministry of Youth and Sports must Plan it budget well and share the Sports Money fairly. We must be given attention like any other Sporting Discipline. The youth must not be left to be idle. Those who cannot play football can play Basketball or do Cycling. I commend the Technical Director, Shaaban Mohammed for learning from past mistakes and putting things in right perspective”

“We have to thank Cowbell for coming to our aid. Indeed they have done very well and we appreciate it very much. They have also benefited in a way because everywhere we go, the women, men, children and old people all shout Cowbell – Our Milk, Am also involved in the sport as a Commissioner, we follow the cyclists or be in front of them ensuring no traffic and work on safety of riders”.

*Mr. Mark Nkrumah - Marketing Manager, (Pens & Plastics) Sponsor of the 2013 cowbell National Cycling Tour

“After over 40 years doing business in Ghana and supporting education and business with the production of pens, we feel proud to be associated with the National Cycling Tour. We also decided to support the lesser known sports like Cycling. We are sponsoring sports and promoting our brand“

“We have BIC pens, pencils, markers and shavers. More people are seeing our brand and I think Cycling is interesting and the people are enjoying the race. People gather along the streets everywhere we go. I love to see the school kids getting the BIC pens because it is the best. Sports must be associated with education and we love to support such initiatives”

*Ali Umar- Technical Director of Tamale Pace Setters Club, Northern Regional Chairman on Cycling Federation and member of Ghana Cycling Federation.

“Am glad to be part of the 2013 Tour. We have done well but it can be done better in the coming years. We are growing and now the organization has improved as compared to last year. Now we have medals for the Media and Officials and it is a good motivation”

The cyclists are riding well but they need modern light fiber bikes to ride on to make better times. The sport is about strength and those who are young or experienced are doing well. Am proud of River Park Kumasi which has some of the Tamale cyclists like Amin Osmanu, the National captain who performed creditably”

It difficult to organize in the regions because of money, but if there is sponsorship; we can produce African and World Champions for Ghana”

“You know how people in Tamale love riding anything, so when we organize racing, the come with all types of bicycles and it is very interesting. Everybody loves riding in Tamale, so we appreciate the Tour”.

Albert Oku- Welfare Officer on the Tour, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of Cycling Federation and National Treasurer.

“Give Way, Give Way, the Cycling are coming”

“We have to thank God for a good year, a better competition and hope for the best to come. I think this year has been an improvement and the availability of funds has pushed us to a different class. We thank Promasidor for providing us with a great competition in which all participants won. You can see even the Media had medals around their necks and they were proud. For me I love to see the Media happy because they let the world Know what we are doing and I am sure Ghana Cycling has come of age. I pray that next year’s event at International level will be well organized”

“We achieved our target and aims for the 2013 Cowbell Tour, but still the Ministry of Youth and Sports must play a part. We want the Minister of Youth and Sports to recognize Cycling as a sport that plays a major role in solving our transport, fitness and economic problems”

“If people use bikes more, we shall solve many problems. Some of us love Cycling more than Football and we want support from the government. We have the potential to become the number one in Africa, if we attend more international competitions”.

*Festus Tettey - Marketing Manager, Promasidor Ghana Limited

“We thank all who contributed to make the 2013 Edition of the Cowbell National Cycling Tour very successful. We thank the Media, Ambulance, Ghana Police, Cycling and their chairmen, Tour officials and the general public for playing a part in one or two ways on the Tour”

For us at Cowbell, we are reaching our goal. We want to make Cowbell the most popular and I believe we are reaching there. Next year, we shall do better. I am glad that Cowbell is on the minds and lips of people. In 13 days we have reached 8 regions and millions of people know about Cowbell in Ghana, if not about the Tour”.

“I am look into the future to see who will one day represent Ghana in Cycling at the Olympic Games. We have the potential, we can make it. If we plan better, we shall succeed”.

*Kwabena Asamoah, Communications Manager of Promasidor

“So far, so good. Cowbell is part of Ghana Sports, but we are into Cycling and Motor Sport more. Our name is synonymous with cycling as we have contributed substantially. We appreciate the work of the Media and the Cyclists in this year’s tour and I believe next year will be better”

“We have also exposed our brand Cowbell and the standard of cycling was very good. The cyclists made an average of 43kilometers per hour which is not bad at all, compared to 45 kilometers per hour made on top International Tours like the Tour de France. Next year we will do some additions like a doctor on the Tour”

Interviews were made during and after the hugely successful 2013 Cowbell Tour by Sammy Heywood Okine