Keita in every attack
On a short course, it was important to hurry up in order to manage a real breakaway. But a lot of riders having aimed at a long break, the peloton leaving Yako took off at very high speed. Immediately in the first kilometre, the peloton stretches and unsuccessful attacks take place. At kilometre 12, a group of 8 takes off, but loses two riders due to punctures including Olivier Keita. Not too many regrets for the Senegal leader, the group is indeed eventually caught back three kilometres later.

Burkina controls
Another attempt, led by Keita, who really deserves his red combativity jersey, is finally caught just before the intermediate sprint of Gourcy (km 27). Abdoulaye Thiam (Sen), Karel Pattyn (Bel), Michel Duvigneau or Gunter Cuylits all give it a go but it looks like attacks are forbidden today. The Burkina riders ride a tactical race to protect their leader and chase every single attempt.

Flahaut comforts his green jersey
Kris Heremans (Bel) and Fabrice Debrabant (Fra) eventually try to break clear a last time, just under the last kilometre mark. The truth is actually that Debrabant’s mission is to chase the Belgian rider in order to prepare the final sprint for his “Porte du Hainault” team sprinter. And it all works out! Denis Flahaut flies off for the final effort and wins the stage with a comfortable lead ahead of Jorry Walgien (Hol) and Saïdou Rouamba (Bur), who has to settle –again- for third spot.

Stablinski, from North to South

It was about time he came to Burkina Faso. Jean Stablinski, legendary rider of the 50s and 60s, had already planned on coming a long time ago. Injured, he was then forced to leave his place to another rider in a team invited for a Tour of Western Africa at the end of 1962. The critérium of Ouagadougou, was the last race of his mate Fausto Coppi who later died from malaria. Raphaël Geminiani, also a victim of malaria but well treated by French doctors who knew a lot more about this kind of disease than their Italian colleagues, was lucky enough to survive.

So, while going through checking at Terminal 3 of the Roissy airport, Stablinski looked rather moved at the fact he was about to fly to the country where Fausto made his last journey. But the former rider remains keen to discover new things on both a sports and tourism point of view. “I travelled around the World a number of times. I even rode in India. But I never went to Africa. What I really enjoy is that the young riders I’m taking with me will ride in different conditions. For example, we won’t be using head-sets. It’s the kind of race I like, old-fashioned“, explained the 1962 World Champion just before flying off.

It is indeed as a sporting director that Stablinski, 72 years of age, eventually arrived in Africa with six young riders of his area. Real northern French riders, all united in the same Porte du Hainaut team that was set up two years ago. At the time, a few Burkina riders had been invited to the water festival of St-Amand-les-Eaux, a perfect opportunity to meet new athletes and think about heading to the Tour of Faso. Since then, the project grew and athletes were selected in different clubs of the area: Yann Baefcop, Fabrice Debrabant, Julien Dely, Denis Flahaut, Michel Lelièvre and Pierre-Alian Leroux were to be the lucky chosen riders.

Jean Stablinski, who in the past managed Van Impe or Bernard Hinault, was now to lead a bunch of youngsters in Ouagadougou. And rapidly the winner of the 1958 Vuelta looked at home, well aware of what he had to do. After two days of the race, he even asked his driver to let him take over the stirring wheel. “He’s a good driver but he isn’t a pilot and isn’t used to driving in the conditions of a cycling race. One has to be sharper than that!”

And things look to work out beautifully… With his old tricks, like using a cauliflower leaf in the helmets to keep heads cooler, Stablinski has convinced everyone. Synthol massages before the start, tea with lemon prepared a day before the stage: Jean takes care of everything. The team is even in second position of the team standings and the best placed rider, Michel Lelièvre, third overall, 1’45’’ behind the event leader. Moreover, Denis Flahaut, the young sprinter of the formation, « a little bomb » according to the expert, has won two stages in Sikasso and Ouahigouya, which gives him a green jersey that he could well definitely conquer at the end of the race. And one can be sure that the old-timer still has some good advice to share until the finish line in Ouaga.